The Spring Grove boys overcame first-half turnovers and then dominated the second half to turn away visiting Houston, 64-38. Ben Udstuen had game-highs with 17 points and 8 rebounds. The junior forward hit 5 of 7 shots from the field and 6 of 9 free throws. Jaxon Strinmoen (6 assists) contributed 14 points along with 8 points each from Bryce Berns and Elijah Solum as the … [Read more...]
Lion Boys Separate Late to Sweep Cougars
The 65-50 final score was the greatest spread of the night and not indicative of what a large crowd witnessed during most of the state-ranked Spring Grove boys’ win at Mabel-Canton. The Cougars (13-12, 9-9 SEC) never led, trailed by six points at halftime (30-24), tied the score (34-34) early in the second half and were within four (49-45) with 5:54 to play before the Lions … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Girls’ First League Loss, a Close One at Grand Meadow, 59-56
The Grand Meadow girls broke a tie score in the final minute and sealed the deal at the free throw line for a home win over league-leading Spring Grove, 59-56. It was the first conference loss for the Lions (20-4, 14-1 SEC), who already assured a share of the loop title, were not yet able to nail down the outright championship. The Lion loss kept Houston alive in the SEC … [Read more...]
Lion Girls Rout Rebels Again
Kinley Soiney had an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double along with 6 steals and 6 assists with only one turnover as the state-ranked No. 20 Spring Grove girls clinched at least a share of the conference championship with a 73-41 home rout of Southland. With a season-high 73 points, the Lions (20-3, 14-0 SEC) claimed their first league title in eight years (2016) and the first … [Read more...]
League-Leading Spring Grove Girls Survive Challenge from Last-Place Lyle/Pacelli
The league-leading Spring Grove girls used a 10-point run in the second half to overtake and eventually subdue last-place Lyle/Pacelli, 50-39. It was a vast departure from the Lions’ 46-point demolition of the Athletics a month previous. After leading 40-7 at halftime in that earlier game, the Lions (19-3, 13-0 SEC) played from behind during most of the first half and was down … [Read more...]
Lion Girls Fall Late to Kee Hawks, 50-44
A late seven-point run catapulted Kee (Lansing, IA) past the Spring Grove girls for an eventual 50-44 win. The Hawks won by six points with six more made free throws. It was only the third loss of the season for the Lions (18-3), who are now 2-2 against Iowa competition. Sophomore Kinley Soiney had 13 points and 9 rebounds for Grove while sophomore Kylie Hammel added 12 … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Girls Take Control Quickly Against Cardinals
Kinley Soiney tossed in 23 points and Kylie Hammel 21 plus 8 rebounds as the visiting, Spring Grove girls ripped LeRoy-Ostrander 67-45. Emerson Ingvalson was solid all-around with 7 points and 7 rebounds plus game-high totals of 6 assists and 7 steals. The season records became reversed with the Lions improving to 18-2 (12-0 SEC) and the Cardinals falling to 2-18 (2-11 … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Two Bronze Beasts, Two Men Named Mons
The Norwegian coat of arms features an upright, yellow lion, wearing a crown and wielding an axe. Recognizing the Norwegian heritage of Spring Grove, that lion would be a fitting source of the school nickname, the Spring Grove Lions. But “au contraire,” which in French means “to the contrary.” There is a 50-50 chance that the original namesake bronze lion came from France. … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Booming Brewing, Organized Opposition
Second of a series It was long a familiar landmark for automobile traffic between Hokah and La Crescent on Highway 16 before it was torn down in 1954. The building originally housed one of the most successful breweries in Minnesota. The Root River Brewery was founded in Hokah Township by Joseph Pfeffer, Jr. in 1858, the same year he and his son immigrated from … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Climate, Topography Ideal for Immigrant Brewers
First of a series It surely will never receive another human footstep, but it endures two levels below street level in downtown Caledonia – a century-and-half-old brewery cellar. As far back as the first decades of white settlement in the 1850s-1860s, there were breweries in Southeast Minnesota, often started by European immigrants, particularly but not exclusively German … [Read more...]