It did not follow the script as might have been expected, but the state-ranked No. 12 Spring Grove boys persevered to avoid a determined upset bid by visiting Lanesboro, 48-37, in the Section 1A Tournament Round of 16. It was not the usual blowout of the No. 15 seed by the No. 2 seed and a stark departure from the Lions’ 34 and 24-point runaway wins over the Burros in their two … [Read more...]
Lion Boys Hold Off Nevis in State-Ranked, Regular-Season Finale at St. Paul
The Spring Grove boys (24-3) scored the final eight points of the first half of a game they won by eight. The No. 12 state-ranked Lions defeated state-ranked No. 17 Nevis, 58-50, in a Saturday afternoon game at Hamline University in St. Paul. Elijah Solum scored five points in that critical late first-half splurge and finished with a game-high 25 points (9 for 16 shooting). … [Read more...]
Spring Grove Boys Handle Hurricanes Again
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...]
Spring Grove Lions
Head Coaches: Kelsey Morken, Taylor Elton (both second year) Where We Left Off in 2023: The Lions, in their first stand-alone season in 39 years, lost their first seven games but then won six of the final nine to finish 6-10 as an independent. They did not have enough SEC games to be eligible for the championship or individual honors, but the Lions did go 5-6 versus SEC … [Read more...]