The week of Monday, December 13 had a trio of SEC girls games with big early season SEC standings ramifications. The top four squads (arguably) all had at least one match-up with another top team; GM played at Kingsland, Lanesboro played at Kingsland, at GM played at Houston. The Knights-Larks battled was headlined by defense, specifically, Kingsland’s half-court zone. GM jumped out early, 17-10, scoring on 8 of 19 possessions (six field goals). Team double-K rallied with a quick three-possession 7-0 run to tie things 17-17 midway through the first half. From that point on, GM made just five field goals (over 35 possessions). The Knights defense forced 20 turnovers. Kingsland committed just 11. The Knights held the Larks to 26% shooting (11 of 41). Kingsland wasn’t particularly strong offensively (16 of 50 shooting > 32%), but they ran sets well enough to score here and there. They broke a 19-19 halftime tie by out-scoring GM 23-10 in the second half, posting a 42-29 win. It was a key victory in the SEC-West race, as it was GM’s first loss (2-1, 5-1) while Kingsland won its fourth straight (3-0, 6-1). The Knights were led by junior guard Anika Reiland (15 pts, 7-11 FGs, 9 rebs, 4 asts, 5 stls), who was everywhere. Audrey Webster (10 pts, 5 rebs) also got to double-figures. Kennedy Fenske and Katelyn Hauser each chipped in six points. Fenske’s six were in Kingsland’s final 10 points. Shelby Beck had five assists. GM was led by sisters Kendyl Queensland (9 pts) and Lauren Queensland (8 pts, 5 rebs). Kingsland (3-0, 6-1) then hosted SEC-East leader Lanesboro (2-0, 5-2). Bret Klaehn’s Burros led 16-6 early, but Kingsland finished the first half on a prolonged 24-7 run to lead 30-23 at intermission. The Burros were held without a field goal their last 16 possessions. But they started the second half 7-0 to tie the game at 30-30. Nonetheless, Kingsland led the entire second half. Lanesboro tied it twice. At one point, the Burros had the ball on six straight possessions down 41-40, but couldn’t take the lead (0-8 FGs, two TO’s). Included was a five-shot, four-offensive rebound series. Kingsland senior post Emily Miner kept moving the Knights tally up slowly. She scored eight straight at one point. Down 47-42, Lanesboro got a basket, a turnover, and another basket to pull within one again (47-46 > 1:30). But an Anika Reiland offensive rebound led to a Shelby Beck assist of an Audrey Webster three-pointer (50-46 > 1:07). Kingsland then dribbled out most of the final minute, as the Burros had multiple fouls to give. Lanesboro had the ball down 50-47 in the final seconds, but only got off a two-point attempt. Kingsland won its fifth straight, 50-47. Reiland (14, pts, 14 rebs, 3 asts, 6 rebs) and Miner (12 pts, 10 rebs) each had double-doubles for Steve Hauser’s group. Webster added 11 points (3-6 threes), Beck six rebounds and four assists. Junior post Kaci Ruen (19 pts, 10 rebs) led the Burros. Jensyn Storhoff (8 pts, 9 rebs, 5 stls), Malia Tessum (5 pts, 6 rebs, 8 asts), and Jessie Schreiber (6 pts, 7 rebs) helped. Brielle Ruen chipped in 9. Kingsland won from distance 6 of 20 (30%) to 3 of 20 (15%) and in second-chance-points (16 to 12). Lanesboro’s four-game win streak was snapped. The same night, Grand Meadow trekked to Houston and picked up a 50-37 win. K-Queensland had a game-high (19 pts, 9-9 FTs, 9 rebs). River Landers (12 pts, 6-11 FTs, 9 rebs), McKenna Hendrickson (9 pts, 10 rebs, 4 stls), and L-Queensland (8 pts, 11 rebs) helped. GM won on the boards 47 to 25 and at the free throw line, 22 of 28 to 12 of 16. Houston was led by Sydney Torgerson (15 pts, 6-7 FTs, 10 rebs), Priya Kingsley (8 pts), and Olivia Beckman (8 pts). Kingsland (4-0, 7-1) and GM (3-1, 6-1) top the SEC-West. SG (3-1, 3-5), Lanesboro (2-1, 5-3), and Houston (2-2, 3-3) top the East.
Knight Girls Big Winners in Key SEC Battles
