Five Journal-covered wrestlers entered their individual section tournaments ranked in state. Four earned berths to the 2020 state wrestling meet. Chatfield’s Cael Bartels (#2 at 113), Seth Goetzinger (#5 at 145), and A.J. Karver (#7 at 220), LARP’s Ross Herber (#4 at 126) fought their way to St. Paul. Goetzinger makes his third trip, Bartels and Herber their second, Karver … [Read more...]
Gophers Score 11-6 Upset
Throughout the course of the season, Houston, FC, and Kingsland had good campaigns in girls basketball. Yet, Brian Baum’s young Chatfield Gophers were near equivalently capable. The Gophers beat Kingsland but lost to FC. A Class AA team (with just one senior) playing tougher like-class opponents, Chatfield’s season wasn’t as impressive record-wise as the other three. But … [Read more...]
Falcons Hold B.A. to 23 Points
Twenty-three points probably isn’t going to win you a lot of basketball games. In a 1A Round of 16 match-up of Faribault B.A. (15-seed, 6-20) and FC (2-seed, 18-8), the Falcons’ defense did the work. The scoreboard between two diverging seeds was thus lopsided. FC held B.A. to nine first half points (33-9) and Michael Jordan’s number for the game in an easy 58-23 win. It … [Read more...]
Hurricanes Level Lions a Third Time
It can be a trap. Two teams play in the playoffs for a third time, on the wings of the favorite having already won twice. But for a third time this year, Houston (3-seed, 20-6) was able to suffocate Spring Grove (14-seed, 6-20). SG hung in there for a half of a 1A Round of 16 game, trailing 21-15 at intermission. But the ‘Canes posted a 50-30 win. Junior guard Emma Geiwitz … [Read more...]
Knights Handle Athletics a Third Time
Kingsland (5-seed, 17-9) had the same situation as Houston. For a third time, they played Round of 16 opponent Lyle/Pacelli (12-seed, 6-19). Steve Hauser’s group held the Athletics to 10 first half points including just two field goals in posting a 27-10 halftime lead. The Knights prevailed 56-33. Ellie Buchholtz (game-high 21 pts, 5-6 FTs, 11 rebs) led the way. Sam … [Read more...]
Cougars Fall on Buzzer-Beater, Danielson Sets Scoring Record
The most dramatic game of the 1A Round of 16 was the battle of M-C (8-seed, 10-15) and Randolph (9-seed, 12-14). The Cougars hit four mid-first-half threes to lead 22-12. That edge was dwindled to 27-21 by halftime. Out of intermission, the Rockets went on a 14-0 run to lead 35-27. M-C struggled offensively (0-6 FGs, 7 TOs). The Cougars fought back into it late. Payton … [Read more...]
Hot Shots
Kingsland’s boys avenged a loss to Lanesboro via 69-61 win. Walker Erdman (King) and John Prestemon (Lanes) each had 20 points to lead their respective teams. Erdman (9 of 9) and Brady Musel (8 of 9) were masters at the free throw line. Kingsland (4-11, 7-19) is 1A’s 14-seed, will host 19-seed Faribault B.A. (1-25). Lanesboro then avenged a loss to L-O via a 60-54 win. … [Read more...]
Boys Basketball (2/17 – 2/22)
Lanesboro 61, Kingsland 69 (K: W. Erdman 20 pts (9-9 FTs), 6 rebs; B. Musel 14 pts (8-9 FTs), 13 rebs, 3 blks; Reed Merkel 9 pts; Nathan Lund 9 pts (3-4 threes). L: J. Prestemon 20 pts (6-6 FTs), 5 rebs, 7 asts; S. Johnson 19 pts (6-9 threes); Carter Clarke 9 pts (3-3 threes); J.T. Rein 9 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls. FTs: King 22-28, L 11-18. Knights end a five-game … [Read more...]
Girls Basketball (2/18 – 2/20)
1A Play-In > 17-seed L-0 (0-24) 37, 16-seed R-P (3-22) 34 (R-P: Ellie Dahl 8 pts, 6 rebs; Alayna Helgemoe 7 pts, 4 rebs, 5 stls. Trojans finish at 3-23) 1A Round of 16 > 10-seed Lanesboro (9-17) 49, 7-seed Southland (11-11) 62 (L: Payton Benson 19 pts (7-9 FTs), 4 stls; Jessie Schreiber 9 pts, 13 rebs. Burros finish at 9-18) … [Read more...]
Knights Go SEC-Perfect to West Title
The final week of the regular season turned into a play-off readying two-step for Kingsland girls basketball. The Knights faced top teams from the SEC East and West. The original Kingsland versus Houston girls basketball game was scheduled for mid-season (postponed per snow). By the time the teams took the court, Houston (11-0, 18-5) was East Division champion and Kingsland … [Read more...]