The 2023 Spring Grove girls, with the fewest turnovers in 11 years, won a dozen basketball games, their most in six years. Under first-year head coach and former Lion standout Taylor Elton, the Lions continued to hold their own against similar Class A competition. At 12-15 overall, the girls were 12-12 versus other Minnesota Class A squads and Iowa small-school Lansing Kee, … [Read more...]
Threes and “D” send Spring Grove boys into section finals
Superior ball-handling, great defense, steady free-throw shooting and hot 3-point shooting propelled the Spring Grove boys into the Section 1A Tournament championship game. On March 11 at Rochester, the 57-46 semi-final decision over two-time defending state champion Hayfield was not only a clash between the No. 2 and No. 3 section seeds was also a high-level state-ranked … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Back and forth across the water
First of a series The Mississippi River and other navigable streams were the superhighways of the 1800s when the nation expanded west. After settlements had been established (five along the Mississippi in what became Houston County), all sorts of watercraft were used to cross the river back and forth, including canoes, poleboats, rowboats, excursion boats, show boats, … [Read more...]
Grove guys grind past Randolph into semi-finals
The Spring Grove boys, with the No. 2 section seed, eliminated No. 7 Randolph, 39-24, in a low-scoring March 7 quarterfinal at Rochester. The defenses were stout and stingy as each offense was limited to the fewest points of the season. The two cold-shooting squads combined for only 63 points, the fewest in a Spring Grove boys’ game in 73 years. Nevertheless, the state-ranked … [Read more...]
Spring Grove boys cage Cougars quickly at section
The Spring Grove boys, with the No. 2 section seed, took quick control of the March 2 section clash with No. 15 Mabel-Canton. The 71-33 decision began with a 26-2 opening Spring Grove salvo on the way to a 45-21 halftime count. Jaxon Strinmoen scored 16 points before halftime on the way to his 18-point, 10-rebound double along with 4 steals, 2 blocked shots and 5 assists … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Fires, fatalities, 50 years and leap year festivities
Part ten of a series It became associated with Sadie Hawkins, a 1937 cartoon character. But 57 years earlier, a similar social event occurred in 1880 Caledonia. The 1882 History of Houston County recounted notable events year by year. THE YEAR 1878 (continued) In December, Mr. John Knock, a German living in the township of Brownsville, was killed by the fall of a large limb … [Read more...]
Season ends for Spring Grove girls with section loss at Kingsland
The 2023 basketball season ended for the Spring Grove girls with a third loss to Kingsland, 64-49, in the Section 1A opener for both teams on Feb. 23 at Spring Valley. With the No. 5 seed, the Knights (21-6) prevailed again over the No. 12 Lions (12-15), but this rematch followed a far different script. During the two regular-season contests, Kingsland had things well under … [Read more...]
Lion boys sweep state-ranked series with Lyle/Pacelli
The regular season closed with a state-ranked conference rematch as Class A No. 7 Spring Grove completed a sweep of visiting No. 9 Lyle/Pacelli, 53-38. In front of a huge crowd, some having to stand throughout, the Lions wrapped up their second-ever 25-win regular season and their 11th undefeated Southeast Conference campaign in the last 19 years while extending their … [Read more...]
Lion boys coast past ‘Canes again, 77-36
The Spring Grove boys poured in a season-high dozen 3-point field goals during a 77-36 rout at Houston. The Lions (24-1, 19-0 SEC) enjoyed hot 52% shooting on the road the next game after their worst shooting night of the season on their home floor (29%). Tysen Grinde scored his 1,000th career point, joining both older brothers in marking that milestone (Chase 2,336; Caden … [Read more...]
Spring Grove boys get past Mabel-Canton, 49-34
It was a “grinder” with both teams struggling to get the ball into the basket. The No. 8 state-ranked Spring Grove boys claimed a 27th consecutive win over next-door neighbor Mabel-Canton, 49-34, on Feb. 20, but there was little similarity to the Lions’ 49-point road rout (85-36) in mid-January. The Grove guys improved to 23-1 (18-0 SEC) while the Cougars left at 10-15 (7-12 … [Read more...]