Rushford-Peterson executed its game plan. Methodically, they ran their sets to get shots for their top shooters and playmakers. The Trojans (8-seed, 15-12) tested #1 Goodhue (1-seed, 24-3), putting them in an early 32-25 second half hole. But Goodhue controlled the glass and 6’7” G/F Sam Opsahl could not be stopped. Seeding held true as the Wildcats moved on to the 1A semis. … [Read more...]
Boys Basketball: Warriors Get Past Chatfield, Fall to PEM in Semis
Caledonia boys basketball, the defending 1AA champion, again vied to play for the 1AA title. They posted a quarterfinal win, but fell in the semifinals. Versus Chatfield (6-seed, 17-10), Caledonia (3-seed, 15-12) used some tactical defense, particularly in the second half, to get revenge for a late season TRC loss. The first half saw the young Warriors blister from deep. … [Read more...]
Girls Basketball: Vikings Stymie Larks, GM Finishes as 1A Runner-Up
In a rematch of last year’s 1A title game, won 65-41 by Hayfield, the defending champion #4 in Class A Vikings (1-seed, 27-4) came out quick on #7 in Grand Meadow (2-seed, 27-2). They controlled things throughout to repeat as Section champions. Hayfield hit six of its first eight field goals to build an early 14-6 lead. The Vikings then closed the first half with a 12-2 run, … [Read more...]
Girls Basketball: Gadient’s Quotient Too Much For “Runner-Up” Warriors
Goodhue girls basketball (1-seed, 26-3), ranked #3 in Class AA, used a quotient centered around junior guard Elisabeth Gadient, and an offense which, when it scored, scored in chunks, to subdue #13 in AA Caledonia (3-seed, 25-3) in the 1AA championship game. Scott Sorenson’s Warriors never led as the Wildcats were an offensive buzz saw. Goodhue jumped out 9-2 and 15-5 and led … [Read more...]
Boys Basketball: Spring Grove Grinds, Surges into Section Finals
The Spring Grove boys (2-seed, 26-1) advanced into the Section 1A basketball championship game with a 39-24 low-scoring quarterfinal win versus Randolph (7-seed, 16-10), followed by a 57-46 semifinal decision over two-time defending state champion Hayfield (3-seed, 23-6). The quarterfinal was a grind with no offensive rhythm as the Lions and Rockets combined to score only 63 … [Read more...]
Much better ball-handling, more wins for Spring Grove girls
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...]
Girls Basketball: Warriors Push “Forward” to 1AA Title Game
Thirteenth-ranked Warriors girls basketball kept a strong season going by pushing forward to the 1AA title game. Caledonia (3-seed, 23-3) had little trouble with Lake City (6-seed, 12-14) in the quarters. Scott Sorenson’s group jumped out 24-11. The Tigers went 4 of 15 from the field to start the game. At the half, team Cal led 38-22. Paige Klug and Alexis Schroeder each had … [Read more...]
Girls Wrestling: Hendrickson, Smith, & Berg are Runners-up
Girls wrestling had its second state meet. Three area athletes finished at state runner-up. GMLOS’ McKenna Hendrickson (132) and Diann Smith (138), and Chatfield’s Chloe Berg (126) also wrestled for state titles. Smith, last year’s runner-up at 138, won a 16-2 major in the quarters over #10 Brook Kritzeck (6-6) of Park Rapids Area and a fall in the semis over Anoka’s #5 Alley … [Read more...]
Girls Basketball: Larks Make Second Straight 1A Title Game
The 2023 Section 1A girls’ basketball game will be a re-match. Grand Meadow (2-seed, 25-2), ranked #7, easily got through the 1A quarters and then executed down the stretch of the semis to make their second straight title game. Ryan Queensland’s Superlarks had little problem with Faribault B.A. (10-seed, 10-13). Cardinal senior post Lindsay Hanson scored their first 10 points … [Read more...]