Duos Propel Knights to Holiday Sweeps

The one Journal-covered school to “win” the “holiday games sweepstakes” was Kingsland.  Behind splendid duos, Knight basketball teams swept Southland and Houston (in two dog-fights) to have a Merry after-Christmas and Happy pre-New Year.  All four wins came on the road.  Knight clubs first visited Southland.  The girls won the first game of the doubleheader 56-48.  Senior Lauren Buchholtz had a 20-20 game (21 pts, 10-19 FGs, 22 rebs).  Sophomore Ellie Buchholtz added 15 (pts), 7 (rebs), and 5 (asts).  Sam Wernimont (8 pts off the bench) and Merredith Farlinger (6 pts, 8 rebs) helped.  The boys then out-scored the Rebels by 15 in the second half for a 70-50 win.  The senor duo of Wyatt Pruter (30 pts, 13-14 FTs, 5 rebs) and Reid Kruegel (21 pts, 6-7 FGs, 3-4 threes, 6-8 FTS, 13 rebs) each scored career highs.  Brady Musel, a 6’6” junior center, added 9 (pts), 7 (rebs), and 3 (blks).  A night later, the Knights trekked to Houston.  The boys took the court first.  Already owning a 72-64 win over team ‘Cane, Kingsland nipped Houston again, 59-58.  Pruter (24 pts, 8-10 FTs, 7 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls) and Kruegel (20 pts, 7-14 FGs, 4-9 threes, 9 rebs, 4 stls) were a lethal combo (scored all but 15 King points).  Houston is getting close to full strength.  James Hongerholt (9 pts, 11 rebs) played in his second game.   Mikkel Schutte (20 pts, 9-16 FGs, 16 rebs) posted his fifth 20/15 game of the season, his seventh double-double in eight games.  Alex Van Gundy (14 pts, 6 rebs) and Caiden Danielson (9 pts, 3-4 threes) also aided the ‘Cane effort.  John Fenske’s Knights improved to 3-2, 5-4.  Trent Vix’s ‘Canes fell to 1-4, 3-5.  Kingsland’s girls then trailed most of the way; 30-21 at half, by ten with around four left, and by seven when Lauren B. fouled out with around two left.  Threes by Ellie B. and Wernimont made it a one-point game.  In the final 20 seconds, Wernimont got a steal, was fouled, and made one free throw to tie it at 56.  Houston had a couple chances, but the game went to OT.  There, Ellie B. hit a quick three.  A key sequence was a two offensive rebound, three made free throw exchange (two by Ellie B.) that put the Knights up five.  The younger Buchholtz scored nine of Kingsland’s 11 points in the OT (4-4 FTs), and 25 points after halftime.   Steve Hauser’s girls, down four starters in OT, won the extra session 12-6.  They avenged an earlier loss with a 67-62 OT win!  E-Buchholtz (career-high 32 pts, 7-12 threes, 8 rebs, 4 asts, 4 stls) and L-Buchholtz (13 pts, 10 rebs, 4 asts) led the way.  Wernimont (8 pts off the bench) and Megan Schultz (7 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts) helped.  Houston was led by Alyssa Rostad (21 pts, 11-12 FTs, 6 rebs, 4 asts) and Emma Geiwitz (20 pts, 8-11 FTs, 5 stls).  Jenny Albrecht (8 pts, 6 rebs) and Sydney Torgerson (6 pts, 15 rebs) helped.  Houston went 27 of 39 at the line, Kingsland 16 of 32.  The Knights (2-2, 6-3) have won five of six.  Houston falls to 4-1, 4-5.  Kingsland teammates Pruter/Kruegel (19.2/12.9) and the Buchholtzes (17.1/15.7) each are combining for 30-plus PPG.