Girls Basketball: Kingsland Winners of ‘Section 1A’ Week

The week of Monday January 9 featured five key 1A girls games; FC at Houston, Lanesboro at FC, Kingsland at Houston, Kingsland at GM, and Lanes-boro at Kings-land. The Knights had a great week. 

Falcons Push Past ‘Canes in Second Half

A battle of Fillmore Central and Houston was that of recent state qualifiers (2020, 2021). FC (0-5, 3-6) had the largest first half lead, seven early (10-3), but took a 28-26 edge to halftime. Houston (3-0, 3-6) was 5 of 10 from deep in the stanza, FC 1 of 4. With it 42-40 late in the second half, FC scored on 8 of 10 possessions. Two Alyssa Britton free throw line jumpers and an Abby Bothun bucket made for a 6-0 run, a 48-42 lead with about three minutes left. FC then went 7 of 9 at the free throw line. Houston hit a couple late threes, but FC prevailed 57-49. Britton (15 pts, 6-12 FGs, 10 rebs) and Regan Hanson (12 pts, 4-7 FGs, 3-4 FTs, 5 rebs) led the Falcons. Hanson scored nine in the second half. Kammry Broadwater (9 pts, 4 rebs, 5 stls) helped. Abby Bothun (8 pts, 6 rebs) and Madison Simon (7 pts, 4 rebs) made it a team effort. The shooting of frosh Avery Kingsley (15 pts, 4-6 threes) and senior Olivia Beckman (12 pts, 4-7 threes) led the ‘Canes. Sydney Torgerson (9 pts, 9 rebs, 6 stls) was hindered by FC’s length. Houston made 11 of 26 threes (42%), FC 1 of 7 (14%). The ‘Canes did not make a second half two-point shot (six threes, five free throws). FC made 11 second-half two-point field goals.

19 to 1 Free Throw Edge Pushes Burros Past Falcons

The battle of Lanesboro (3-1, 6-2) and Fillmore Central (0-5, 4-6) saw the Burros hit 19 of 33 free throws (58%) while the

Falcons (0-5, 4-6) hit just 1 of 7 (14%). Lanesboro was 15 of 28 at the line in the second half. Those stats, combined with interior size, propelled the Burros to victory. Lanesboro jumped out 17-4. Senior center Kaci Ruen had a double-double in the first half. But FC, which went scoreless for 15 straight possessions (0 for 10 FGs), strung some makes together. That and increased defensive pressure resulted in a 16-4 run. At half, the Burro lead was 21-20. FC took its first lead early in the second half. But Burro Jensyn Storhoff sandwiched two threes around a Jessie Schreiber basket. The 8-0 run put the Burros ahead 35-30. FC scored just two points its last 15 possessions, struggling versus the zone. Bret Klaehn’s group won going away, 52-36. Frosh Storhoff (22 pts, 3-9 threes, 4 rebs, 6 stls) and senior K-Ruen (18 pts, 7-11 FGs, 4-5 FTs, 17 rebs) led the way. Schreiber (9 pts, 13 rebs) helped. Lanesboro held a 55 to 38 rebounding edge. Jersey Ristau (10 pts) led FC off the bench. Abby Bothun (9 pts, 8 rebs, 4 stls) and Kammry Broadwater (7 pts, 7 rebs) also did work. FC scored 16 second half points and 10 were second-chance. Lanesboro scored 31 second half points and 15 came at the line. Houston beat Lanesboro 57-40 and FC beat Houston 57-49 in the days prior to this game. 

Hauser’s Late Three Lifts Kingsland Over Houston

Kingsland (5-0, 8-4) and Houston (3-0, 3-7) renewed their girls basketball rivalry as two of the three remaining SEC undefeated teams. Said contest went down to the wire. The first half saw the teams combine to go 1 of 28 from deep. Kingsland led 20-13 at intermission. The Knights lead grew as high as 28-18 in the second half. Houston made a run, 7-0, closing to down 28-25. The Hurricanes momentarily tied things 33-33 (Emily Botcher three) only for the Knights (Morgan Phillips three) to answer right back (36-33). With it 38-36, senior Sydney Torgerson hit a three that put Houston ahead 39-38 (0:40). It was only their second lead (2-1). Kingsland then missed a three, but Houston missed the front end of a one-and-one. Knight senior point guard Anika Reiland then found junior Katelyn Hauser, who buried a wing three (0:09), putting team double-K up 41-39! Houston missed a desperate game-tying shot. The Knights stayed SEC undefeated by a 41-39 final. Reiland (8 pts, 15 rebs, 4 asts), Hauser (8 pts, 4 asts), and Phillips (8 pts) led the way. Torgerson (19 pts, 9 rebs) led all scorers. Kingsland went 4 of 26 from deep (15%), Houston 6 of 27 (22%). Nine of the makes came after halftime. 

Early Half Knights Down GM in Big West Contest 

Kingsland (6-0, 9-4) used some hot early half shooting and held off surges by Grand Meadow (5-0, 9-1) to post a big rivalry and key SEC-West victory. In a battle for first place, and a re-match of a 2022 1A semifinal, Kingsland hit 7 of 11 shots for a 17-3 start. GM got back in it. The combination of 5’10” junior forward Lexy Foster inside, and Knight senior Anika Reiland sitting with three fouls, had GM within three (20-17) at intermission. The Knights then went 11-3 to start the second half to lead 31-20. GM pushed late. A technical fouled allotted the Larks a four-point possession, cutting the Knight edge to 37-36. But Chantle Reiland then hit two free throws, and A-Reiland authored a steal and score (with help of the ball bouncing off an official). Kingsland led 41-36. GM had the ball down 41-38 four times. The last in the final 20 ticks ended in turnover. A-Reiland hit two free throws (0:02.5) to ice a 43-38 win. The Knights avenged last year’s playoff loss and took sole possession of the SEC-West. Ryley Guy (13 pts, 5-8 FGs) led Kingsland. She had 10 second half points. C-Reiland and Hailee Warren each had six points. Warren hit two big first half threes. A-Reiland (5 pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls) helped. Nine Knights scored. GM’s Foster had a massive game (26 pts, 12-14 FTS, 14 rebs). She was the only Lark with more than six. GM finished 0 of 16 from deep, Kingsland 5 of 17 (29%). GM made 18 of 22 free throws (82%), Kingsland 6 of 10 (60%). 

Knights Win Battle of Division Leaders

With Kingsland (7-0, 10-4) taking sole possession of first in the West by beating GM, a game with Lanesboro (3-1, 7-2) was a battle of division leaders. For a third time on the week, Steve Hauser’s group battled to the wire. Their speedy defense was up to task. The games largest lead was six; 26-20 Kingsland. Down 29-24 in the second half, Lanesboro scored six straight to go ahead 30-29 (4:15). But Katelyn Hauser and Hailee Warren then hit threes, making it 35-32 Knights. Hauser’s was her only make (1 of 9). After two Kaci Ruen free throws made it 35-34, Anika Reiland then went down the lane, scoring with under two minutes left to make it 37-34. Lanesboro’s next two possessions came up empty. With 18.4 seconds left, Chantle Reiland sank two free throws to make it 39-34. After a Ruen basket (39-36), A-Reiland sank a free throw (0:03.7) to ensure the win. The Knights knocked off their third division leader of the week, beating Lanesboro 40-36. Warren (9 pts, 3-5 threes, 6 rebs) and Hauser (9 pts) led the scoring-effort. A-Reiland (6 pts, 13 pts, 5 asts) was everywhere with her defense, rebounding, and passing. C-Reiland chipped in 6 points (4-6 FTs). Ruen (13 pts, 14 rebs) led Lanesboro. Jensyn Storhoff (11 pts) and Jessie Schrieber (10 pts, 11 rebs) also hit double figures. Lanesboro was 1 of 14 from deep (22%), Kingsland 5 of 25 (20%)). The Knights survived giving up 25 offensive rebounds. Kingsland (8-0, 11-4) won four games on the week (See ‘Girls Basketball” for Southland game stats), and have won five straight to lead the SEC-West over GM (6-1, 10-2). Lanesboro (3-2, 7-3) trails Houston (4-1, 4-8) in the SEC-East.