It was a gut-punch finish for the Spring Grove boys, who had rallied back from a 10-point, second-half deficit to lead by as many three points. But a late Lion turnover allowed the 8-win Falcons to upset the 22-win Lions, 55-54, at Preston on Feb. 25. In this non-conference, regular-season finale for both teams, Fillmore Central snapped an 11-game, 11-year losing slide in the … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Gold, murder, a water spout and a new Lutheran edifice
Part six of a series. Residents of Houston County were among those seeking wealth during the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1874-1877. Gold had been discovered in Dakota Territory by an 1874 United States Army expedition of 1,000 men, led by George Armstrong Custer. In 1877, according to a published history of Houston County, “A lot of Blackhillers, as they were called, left … [Read more...]
Spring Grove girls grab two road wins, receive No. 11 section seed
Jordian Leahy scored a career-high 33 points plus a 20-point performance as the Spring Grove girls closed the regular season with a pair of satisfying road wins at Southland, 55-37, and at Lyle/Pacelli, 74-63. The Lions the Section 1A Tournament with the No. 11 seed among 19 teams and open postseason play at No. 6 Rushford-Peterson. It will be a rematch with the Trojans having … [Read more...]
SG boys’ buzzer-beater sets up overtime triumph during three-win week
Elijah Solum nailed a buzzer-beating, 3-point basket to send the game into overtime, and then the sophomore guard scored the only two points in the extra period as the Spring Grove boys finally prevailed, 39-37, in a titanic defensive duel with visiting Lyle/Pacelli in a showdown of SEC division champions. It was the first matchup ever staged in Spring Grove between two teams … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Bells rang for classes, curfew and calamities
Before people had clocks and wristwatches, bells rang out the time of day. Centuries later, but still before electricity provided conveniences such as fire sirens, bells were a source of community communication - sometimes summoning people out of their homes, sometimes sending children back home. In the early 1900s, there were bells all around Houston, Minn. – according to town … [Read more...]
Lion girls fall to Falcons, grab wins against Knights, Cardinals
The Spring Grove girls won two of three games last week, all of which at home and all decided before halftime. Fillmore Central lashed the Lions, 78-36, on Feb. 8 before the Grove girls claimed a 68-38 thrashing of Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons on Feb. 10, one night before completing a season sweep of LeRoy-Ostrander, 60-42. The latter was a conference contest after Spring … [Read more...]
Lion boys sweep Southland, roll past LeRoy-Ostrander
The Spring Grove boys, for a second time this season, used a second-half scoring spurt to subdue Southland. Then they netted a season-most 15 threes on the road while extending their winning streak against LeRoy-Ostrander to 34 games. The 51-38 home win over the Rebels on Feb. 7 was a non-conference decision; the Lions had taken the SEC game in Adams (59-37) back in December. … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Carrying lunch pails, they traveled by buggy, bus or train – even on foot
It was a black covered wagon, with curtains on the sides, that was pulled by a horse. For seating, there were benches on each side of the wagon. Small passengers entered by way of two steps leading to the back door. It was the first school bus for the Houston public school – maybe the first such education transportation in Minnesota, surmised Ingrid Julsrud, who was one of 15 … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Raging ravines, icy bluffs, miscues and rescues
Part five of a series. John Prieve was able to save the life of Nicholas Smith and also rescue his team of horses after a surge of water had caught them in a gulch deep enough to prevent escape on either side. Smith’s wagon was never seen again; the wagon wheels were found among driftwood a mile down the ravine in the Crooked Creek valley southeast of Caledonia. Some others … [Read more...]
Lion girls drop decisions versus Indians, Knights, Cougars
The Spring Grove girls ended the week with a 35-30 loss at Mabel-Canton on Jan. 27 - the lowest scoring game between the two programs in 24 years, since a 26-25 Cougar win in 1997-98. This latest decision made it a season split, each time with the home team prevailing by five points. While that Lion-Cougar contest was decided late, the first two Spring Grove games of the … [Read more...]