Knights Go SEC-Perfect to West Title

The final week of the regular season turned into a play-off readying two-step for Kingsland girls basketball.  The Knights faced top teams from the SEC East and West.  The original Kingsland versus Houston girls basketball game was scheduled for mid-season (postponed per snow).  By the time the teams took the court, Houston (11-0, 18-5) was East Division champion and Kingsland (11-0, 15-9) had clinched a share of the West.  The SEC’s top two teams played just ahead of the play-offs. The Knights got the big victory, turning a 31-27 halftime edge into a 64-52 win.  Ellie Buchholtz (22 pts, 9-16 FGs, 8 rebs, 6 asts, 4 stls, 2 blks) led the way, but 6’0” junior center Merredith Farlinger had a career-high (18 pts, 8-13 FGs, 12 rebs, 6 blks).  Sam Wernimont added 10 points.  Kingsland assisted 20 of 25 field goals.  They hit 25 of 58 shots (43%).  Emma Geiwitz (17 pts, 10 rebs, 6 asts, 4 stl) and Sydney Torgerson (10 pts, 10 rebs, 4 stls) had double-doubles for Houston.  Becca Rostad (14 pts) and Jenny Albrecht (7 pts, 10 rebs, 4 asts) helped.  Houston assisted 16 of 18 field goals.  They hit 18 of 65 shots (28%).  With the win, Kingsland won the West title out-right.  And thus, Friday’s match-up with second place GM had no bearing on the standings.  Kingsland played for SEC perfection.  The Knights held GM to 12 first half points, led 23-12 at intermission, and hung on for the 47-42 win.  Buchholtz (18 pts, 6 rebs) was the only Knight in double figures.  She hit 6 of 7 second half free throws. Alyssa Link added 7 points.  Farlinger had 6 boards and 8 blocks.  Riley Queensland (15 pts) and Isabelle Olson (12 pts) hit double figures for GM.  Olson’s points all came in the second half.  The Knights beat the Larks 58-45 in December also.  Steve Hauser’s group (13-0, 17-9) has now shared (2019) or won (2020) a division title in each of their first two years in the SEC.  Junior guard Ellie Buchholtz is averaging 22.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.4 steals in 2020.  Kingsland is 1A’s 5-seed, will host 12-seed L/P (6-19).