The Spring Grove girls outran visiting Wabasha-Kellogg up and down the floor for a 63-43 non-conference home win on Dec. 19. Taylor Elton’s Lions scored nearly half of their points (29 of 63) in transition while allowing the Falcons no fast-break points. Fast-break scoring resulted in Spring Grove shooting 54% from the field, the Lions’ best in 11 years. Both teams shot well … [Read more...]
Spring Grove boys bury Burros early
The Spring Grove boys, for the second straight game, scored the first 18 points of a runaway home rout. The 64-30 decision was the Lions’ 21st consecutive victory over Lanesboro and 40th straight Southeast Conference win as the Boys in Black improved to 5-0 (4-0 SEC). The Burros returned home at 2-6 (2-4 SEC) after their Dec. 22 setback. Four Lions scored in double … [Read more...]
Lion boys wallop Wolverines in home opener
After opening the season with three road games, the Spring Grove boys enjoyed flogging Glenville-Emmons, 66-27, in the Lions’ home opener on Dec. 21. Jaxon Strinmoen hit 11 of 17 shots on the way to 25 points, one of 10 Lions to score. Twelve of the 13 Grove guys were credited with rebounds and nine with steals. Both teams went 5 for 9 at the free throw line, but that was all … [Read more...]
Lion Girls Claim First Win Over St. Charles, 63-27
The Spring Grove girls enjoyed a holiday-week feast of rebounds while securing their first win ever against Class AA St. Charles, 63-27. The Lions scored exactly 63 points for the second straight game, improving to 7-1 while the home team remained winless at 0-8. The Grove girls overcame a season-worst 25 turnovers because the Saints lost possession 40 times, including … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Speaking Norwegian at Home, English at School
Part three of a series Owen Hagen said when he started kindergarten in Spring Grove in the 1930s, he could not speak English, only Norwegian. “It was kind of hard for me,” he recalled. “Kids would laugh at me but that changed in a hurry,” he added without explanation. For Tinka Bergrud Rud (1915-2004), speaking Norwegian at school in the early 1920s was not a problem with … [Read more...]
Late Lion Surge Buries LeRoy-Ostrander Girls
Emerson Ingvalson poured in a career-high 26 points as the Spring Grove girls remained undefeated in conference play with a 70-51 home win over a young, but pesky crew of Cardinals from LeRoy-Ostrander on Dec. 15. Ingvalson did more than score, close to a double -double with 9 rebounds along with 5 steals and 4 assists (only 1 turnover). Kylie Hammel turned in a second … [Read more...]
Lion boys emerge from low-scoring start, crush Cardinals
The Spring Grove boys persevered through a record-tying, low-scoring first half before racing away from LeRoy-Ostrander after intermission for an ultimately convincing 54-17 road win on Dec. 19. Two Lions posted double-doubles with Jacob Olerud scoring 13 points plus career-records with 13 rebounds and 8 assists. Ben Udstuen had career-highs with 13 points plus 10 boards. Jaxon … [Read more...]
Record-Breaking Ball-Handling Lifts Lion Girls Past Schaeffer
Siri Konkel hit four of five free throws in the final 19 seconds as the Spring Grove girls held off Schaeffer Academy, 42-38, on Dec. 12 at Rochester. Grove overcame cold 26% shooting with superb ball-handling, only five turnovers – believed to be a program record. Schaeffer shot much better (43%) but not nearly as often. With 27 turnovers, Schaeffer attempted only 40 shots to … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Boys Survive Lancer rally, 60-57
The Spring Grove boys would fall behind after seeing their 14-point lead disappear, but the Lions survived with a 60-57 road win against previously undefeated Class AA La Crescent-Hokah. The game ended with the Lancers missing a potential game-tying 3-point shot. Down 51-50, the Lions regained the lead with 3-balls from Ethan Crouch and Isaac Nerstad. A jump shot from Jacob … [Read more...]
Spring Grove boys open with road rout of Schaeffer
The Spring Grove boys opened the 2023-2024 basketball season with a runaway 68-36 road win over Schaeffer Academy on Dec. 12. Those other Lions residing in Rochester, hit a pair of early 3-point field goals and two free throws to lead 8-4 before being engulfed and undone by an avalanche of turnovers. Spring Grove outscored Schaeffer by 17 points in the first half (32-15) and by … [Read more...]