Daylight and darkness, rags and riches – there was considerable contrast between the Spring Grove boys’ two opponents and outcomes last week. It began at home on Dec. 7 against Houston, a team suffering through a losing streak that was extended to 24 games. The week ended Saturday on the road against the top-ranked Class 1A team in Iowa (the smallest enrollment class). North Linn has played in the last three state championship games – capturing the state crown in 2019 before finishing as state runner-up in both 2020 and 2021.
Photo by Lee Epps
In the B-team season opener, Lion freshman Bryce Berns had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in the 45-14 victory versus Houston. Freshman Nathan Crouch scored 10 points and passed out four assists with no turnovers. Results of the junior high games were not yet available.
SG 71, Houston 22
Elijah Solum scored a career-high 20 points, and Tysen Grinde had 18 points along with a career-best 9 steals. There were numerous career highs for Lions with less varsity experience. Logan Brumm added 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists with only one turnover. A dozen players saw action; nine scored and all 12 were credited with rebounds.
Spring Grove shot a better percentage from 3-point land (43%) than from closer in (37%). Six different Lions tallied treys with Isaac Nerstad going 2 for 2, Solum 3 for 5 and Grinde 2 for 4.
There was no suspense as the Lions led 45-6 at halftime. Both teams were whistled for 17 fouls, and both shot a mediocre 53% from the free throw line. The Hurricanes competed well on the glass with 32 rebounds to 33 for the Lions. But Spring Grove’s 29 steals contributed to 36 Houston turnovers. Shooting a woeful 16% from the field, the Hurricanes managed only five field goals all game, four of which came from 3-point range. After Spring Grove abandoned its trapping zone defense for a man-to-man, freshman point guard Zach Olson was able to finally find some space to shoot and drilled three straight treys. With four triples, he tallied 14 of Houston’s 22 points.
It was the second loss this year for the Hurricanes (0-2) after last winter’s winless season. Houston’s last victory versus Spring Grove came two years ago, but the Lions have won 58 of the last 60 games against the ‘Canes.
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 45+26= 71
>>Hou 6+16= 22
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 39% (26-66), Hou 16% (5-31)
2-pt FG: SG 37% (16-43), Hou 6% (1-17)
3-pt FG: SG 43% (10-23), Hou 29% (4-14)
Free throws: SG 53% (9-17), Hou 53% (8-15); Rebounds: SG 33, Hou 32; Turnovers: SG 11, Hou 36; 2nd Chance points: SG 17, Hou 1; Fast break points: SG 18, Hou 1; Points in paint: SG 40, Hou 8; Greatest lead: SG 54, Hou 0; Fouls: SG 17, Hou 17
LION INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Caleb Griffin 3P, 1R, 2A, 4S; Nathan Crouch 1R; Isaac Nerstad 6P, 2R, 1A; *Tysen Grinde 18P, 5R, 2A, 9S; *Hunter Holland 3P, 6R, 2A, 2S; Josh Newgaard 1R; *Ethan Crouch 2P, 3R, 1A, 2S, 1B; Logan Brumm 9P, 3R, 3A, 3S; Jacob Olerud 2P, 2R, 2S, 1B; Bryce Berns 2R, 1A, 1S; Carson Gerard out injured; Jaxon Strinmoen 8P, 2R, 3S, 1B; *Elijah Solum 20P, 5R, 3A, 3S, 1B
SG 36, North Linn 69
Spring Grove led 25-21 in the second quarter (Iowa plays quarters, Minnesota plays halves) before the Lynx changed defenses. The Lions shot 53% before the change and only 17% thereafter. After four tie scores and four lead changes, North Linn separated with fast breaks while scoring 13 unanswered points to take a 35-27 lead into the halftime break.
There would be no Lion recovery; Spring Grove scored only nine more points and went scoreless during the final 10 minutes of the 16-minute second half. The Lions’ 12 first-half turnovers were too many, but they improved with only seven lost possessions after halftime. But North Linn, after five turnovers in the first quarter, had only one more turnover during their final 38 possessions. And amazingly, that exemplary ball-handling came while the Lynx raced up and down the court during a relentless fast-break exhibition. They outscored the Lions in transition, 30 to 9.
In the half-court game, North Linn displayed some pinpoint passing while scoring 56 of their 69 points in the lane. Meanwhile, Spring Grove attempted more shots beyond the 3-point arc than they did closer to the basket. Although the teams combined for six 3-pointers in the first quarter, neither team shot well from afar overall, SG 25% (6 for 24) and NL 23% (3 for 13). Spring Grove greatly depended on those trey attempts; North Linn did not. For the night, defense was critical as the Lynx outshot the Lions, 52% to 29%. North Linn’s first five opponents had averaged 33 points per game; Spring Grove scored 36.
The home team also fared better at the foul line, hitting 12 of 15 free throws (80%), while the Lions went 4 for 7 (57%). The Grove guys best competed on the backboards where they held a slim 28 to 26 rebounding advantage. They limited the Lynx to only five offensive rebounds.
For Spring Grove, Tysen Grinde had team-high totals with 16 points and 6 rebounds. It was the season debut for senior Carson Gerard who had missed the first two games with an injury.
Three Lynx scored in double figures. Dylan Kurt had 20 points, Austin Hilmer 16; they both grabbed 7 rebounds. North Linn played with a primary rotation of six players – three seniors, two juniors and a freshman.
>>SCORE by QUARTERS
>>SG 19+ 8 + 9 + 0 = 36
>>NL 21+14+19+15 = 69
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 29% (13-45), NL 52% (27-52)
2-pt FG: SG 33% (7-21), NL 62% (24-39)
3-pt FG: SG 25% (6-24), NL 23% (3-13)
Free throws: SG 57% (4-7), NL 80% (12-15)
Rebounds: SG 28, NL 26; Turnovers: SG 19, NL 6; 2nd Chance points: SG 3, NL 7; Fast break points: SG 9, NL 30; Points in paint: SG 9, NL 56; Greatest lead: SG 4, NL 33; Fouls: SG 17, NL 9
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Caleb Griffin 2P, 1R, 1A; Nathan Crouch no stats; *Tysen Grinde 16P, 6R, 2S; *Hunter Holland 2P, 5R; *Ethan Crouch 5R, 1A, 3B; Logan Brumm no stats; Jacob Olerud 3P; Carson Gerard 3P, 4R, 1S, 1B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 3P, 4R, 1A, 1S; *Elijah Solum 7P, 3R, 2A
B-TEAM: SG 45, Houston 14
>>SCORE by HALVES
SG 25+20=45
Hou 7 + 7 = 14
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 41% (20-49), Hou 27% (6-22)
2-pt FG: SG 53% (19-36), Hou 25% (4-16)
3-pt FG: SG 8% (1-13), Hou 334% (2-6)
Free throws: SG 40% (4-10), Hou 0% (0-5); Rebounds: SG 28, Hou 13; Turnovers: SG 7, Hou 24=; Greatest lead: SG 36, Hou 0; Fouls: SG 14, Hou 7
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Caleb Eiken 1R, 1S; *Nathan Crouch 10P, 3R, 4A, 3S; Kohl Betcher 2P; *Isaac Nerstad 4P, 1R, 2B; Ben Udstuen 8P, 1R, 1S, 1B; Troy Reinhardt 6P, 2R; Josh Newgaard 3R, 1S; *Zach Brumm 2P, 2R; *Bryce Berns 133, 10R, 5S; Ezra Griffin 2R, 1A, 1S=; Gavin Ostern 1R; *Shawn Crouch 2R, 2S, 1B
Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2021-’22 (*conference game)
1-0 (0-0 SEC)
W vs. New Hampton, Iowa 45-41
W vs. Houston* 71-22
Fri. 12/10 vs. Lyle/Pacelli* postponed to Feb. 18
L at North Linn, Iowa 36-69
Fri. 12/17 at Southland* (Adams)
Tues. 12/21 Lanesboro*
>>>Rushford-Peterson Tournament
Tues. 12/28 at Rushford-Peterson, 7 pm
Wed. 12/29 vs. Randolph or Dover-Eyota (at Rushford) time TBD
Tues. 01/04 at Mabel-Canton*
Fri. 01/07 at Schaeffer Academy*
Mon. 01/10 Kingsland (non-conference)
Tues. 01/11 Grand Meadow*
Fri. 01/14 at Fillmore Central (Preston) 7:30 pm
Mon. 01/17 at Houston*
Tues. 01/18 at La Crescent-Hokah 7 pm
Fri. 01/21 at Martin County West (Sherburn) 7 pm
Sat. 01/22 at Madelia 1 pm
Tues. 01/25 at Kingsland*
Thur. 01.27 Waukon
Fri. 01/28 Mabel-Canton*
Thur. 02/03 Glenville-Emmons*
Fri. 02/04 at Lanesboro*
Mon. 02/07 Southland (non-conference)
Fri. 02/11 at LeRoy-Ostrander*
Mon. 02/14 St. Charles
Thur. 02/17 Schaeffer Academy*
Fri. 01/18 Lyle/Pacelli*
B-team Boys Basketball 2021-’22
1-0 (1-0 SEC)
W vs. Houston 45-14