Fighting Out of a Hole

It was an inauspicious start to the season for Houston girls basketball.  Two long road trips and a night-game, day-game, back-to-back, equaled and 0-3 start for last year’s SEC East champs.  The ‘Canes were happy to be home hosting Kingsland.  Inspired, they got win number one 60-48.  Free throws were a difference, as the ‘Canes went 20 of 27 to Kingsland’s 15 of 30.  Each team struggled from deep, Kingsland going 1 of 19, Houston 0 of 7.  New ‘Cane scoring champ Alyssa Rostad (25 pts, 11-11 FTs, 7 rebs) led the way.  Emma Geiwitz (12 pts, 5 rebs, 5 stls) and Becca Rostad (11 pts, 5 rebs) helped.  Lauren (16 pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts) and Ellie Buchholtz (12 pts) led the Knights.   Houston then made a shorter trip to Lanesboro.  The Burros, fresh off a rough loss to M-C, played tough for almost a half (trailed 27-23 late in the first).  Houston then overwhelmed the Burros with their half-court press and transition, running 23-3 on either side of intermission to lead 50-26.  The ‘Canes got a 2-0 week, and improved to 2-3, courtesy of a 69-34 final.   A-Rostad (23 pts, 8 rebs, 6 stls), Geiwitz (18 pts > 16 in first half, 8-13 FGs, 5 rebs, 4 stls), B-Rostad (12 pts), and Sydney Torgerson (11 pts, 6 rebs) gave Houston four in double figures.   Sophia Simes (11 pts) and Emily Snyder (8 pts, 7 rebs) led the Burros.