Lions Top Larks in Early SEC Matchup
A year ago, Spring Grove’s girls lost just once in winning the SEC title, to Grand Meadow 59-56. In an early notable SEC match-up, Taylor Elton’s Lions redeemed said defeat versus the Larks. The Lions shot 50% from the field, led 30-24 at half, began the second half with a 9-0 run, and led by double-digits thereafter in posting a 64-49 win. SG led by as many as 21 in the second half. Senior Kylie Hammel led the way with career-highs in points and boards (23 pts, 10 rebs, 4 stls). Emerson Ingvalson (16 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts), Siri Konkel (7 pts, 7 asts), and Kinley Soiney (6 pts, 6 rebs) helped. Lauren Queensland had 21 points to lead the Larks. Rylee Schaufler (10 pts, 4-5 FGs, 9 rebs) and Gracie Foster (9 pts) helped. SG improved 1-0 in the SEC, 2-0 overall. GM fell to 1-1, 1-1.
Warriors Pull Section Finalist Sweep
Caledonia girls basketball schedule to begin the year was right into the fire. Their first two games were against last year’s 1AA finalists Rochester-Lourdes and Winona-Cotter. After downing the Eagles 67-48, Scott Sorenson’s group trekked to Winona to face their TRC rival. Up 31-30 in the second half, Caledonia went on a 7-0 run to lead 38-30. Down the stretch, Josie Foster scored six straight points, going coast-to-coast, catching a full-court-press beating touchdown-pass, and via an inbounds. The last made it 46-37 Warriors with around 3:00 to play. In a battle of last year’s TRC-East co-champs, Caledonia posted a big 50-37 win. Starters Aubrie Klug (15 pts, 5 rebs, 5 stls), Kensey King (12 pts, 7 rebs), Foster (10 pts, 5 rebs, 7 stls), Sienna Augedahl (7 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts), and Nicole Banse (4 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts) each did work. Caledonia held the Ramblers to 13 of 39 shooting (33%). And Cotter made its first four shots. After making four of seven in the first half from deep, Cotter was 1 of 11 in the second half. The Ramblers had 27 turnovers, Cal 18. The Warriors also won the offensive glass 12 to 5. Rambler star Clarissa Sauer (8 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts) hit a couple first half threes, but did not convert a shot the final 25 minutes (0-7 FGs). Caledonia improved to 1-0 in the TRC, 2-0 overall. They are now ranked #7 in Class AA.
Three Rivers Conference Girls Basketball (11/25 & 11/26)
Chatfield 50, Dover-Eyota 62 (C: Amaya Harmening 15 pts (7-10 FGs); Grace Schroeder 11 pts; Kendall Knutson 9 pts, 6 rebs; Lexi Kivimagi 7 pts, 5 asts, 4 stls. Chatfield trailed 37-13 at half, albeit won the second half 37-25, in the season opener)
Rushford-Peterson 59, Fillmore Central 20 (R-P: Kaia Loney 16 pts (7-11 FGs), 8 rebs; Nadia Happel 11 pts, 6 rebs, 4 stls; Torryn Schneider 11 pts, 8 asts, 5 stls; Shelby Tesch 6 pts, 8 rebs. FC’s leading scorers had four points and the Falcons had 34 turnovers. R-P > 1-0, 1-1. FC > 0-1, 0-1)
Non-Conference Girls Basketball (11/30)
Wabasha-Kellogg 38, Houston 71 (H: A. Boldt 32 pts (15-23 FGs), 5 stls; E. Botcher 11 pts; Avery Kingsley 9 pts)
Southeast Conference Girls Basketball (11/25 & 11/26)
Houston 73, LeRoy-Ostrander 42 (H: A. Boldt 33 pts (16-21 FGs), 4 stls; Jorja Meyer 13 pts, 6 rebs. L-O: Miranda Nagel 16 pts (8-14 FGs), 7 rebs; Benita Nolt 13 pts. Hurricanes > 1-1, 2-1)
LeRoy-Ostrander 28, Lanesboro 51 (L: J. Storhoff 21 pts, 11 rebs, 8 asts, 7 stls; Taylor Hanson 10 pts (5-7 FGs). L-O: Miranda Nagel 11 pts. Burros > 1-0, 2-0. Cardinals > 0-3, 0-3)