Photo by Lee Epps
That left both the Cougars and the big-city Lions with three league losses, both at 2-3 in SEC action. And those two squads are tied for second place in the SEC East. Just five games into the 14-game division schedule, Spring Grove (7-2, 5-0 SEC) has a three-game lead. The Lions have won 10 of the last 11 East Division championships.
Schaeffer’s 14 points were one point short of Spring Grove’s defensive record (since 1943). But Schaeffer scored only one point in the second half, which is a record (for the seasons for which halftime scoring is available).
Against the Spring Grove defense, both opponents struggled mightily to get off a shot. Mabel-Canton had 29 turnovers while attempting only 32 shots. Schaeffer lost possession 25 times while attempting only 20 shots. The Lions also defended without giving up many free throws.
The Spring Grove B-team (4-3) defeated Mabel-Canton 47-30 but fell 34-33 at Schaeffer when Minsou Choung hit a desperation 3-pointer with just a second remaining in overtime. There was no eighth grade game at Schaeffer, but the Grove eighth graders (3-1) collared the Cougars. The SG seventh graders (5-0) remained unbeaten and also untested with a 60-11 decision at Mabel-Canton and a 43-2 romp at Rochester. (No typo, 43-2)
SG 67, Mabel-Canton 32
Spring Grove, in this 24th straight win against Mabel-Canton, scored the first 16 points of the game and then the first 16 points of the second half. Those 32 points accounted for most of the final 35-point spread. The Cougars, who went scoreless for approximately the first seven and half minutes of the game and the first six and half minutes of the second half, were engulfed by the tenacious Lion defense, which came away with 19 steals. Both teams had almost the same shooting success – SG 39%, MC 38%. But Spring Grove, with 18 fewer turnovers and seven more rebounds, shot much more often.
Neither team enjoyed much success beyond the 3-point arc, including Mabel-Canton’s 17% (2 for 12). The Lions, for the second straight game, shot a season-worst 23% from 3-point range (4 for 17), but they compensated with a season-high 33 free throw attempts and a season-high 25 made free throws for a season-best 76% free throw percentage. Seven different Lions made trips to the foul line.
Junior guard Caleb Griffin came off the bench to lead Lion scoring with a career-high 16 points while the team’s leading scorer and rebounder for the season, Grinde, put in 15 points along with a game-high 7 rebounds. Carson Gerard was also in double figures with 11 points and rebounded 6 times. Solum (5 rebounds) and Jacob Olerud each added 8 points. For the Cougars, Jaymeson Tollefsrud (11 points) and Jordan Larson (10) combined for 21 of their 32 points.
SG 58, Schaeffer Academy 14
Neither team was at full strength. The Lions from Rochester were missing four key players due to illness and injury while Gerard, Spring Grove all-conference senior, was also home with illness. Griffin moved into the starting lineup and responded with an all-around stat line – 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.
Grinde’s seven-assist performance was accomplished with only one turnover. Solum (30 points) sizzled with 11 for 16 shooting, including sensational 5 for 7 success beyond the arc. The team matched a season-high 24 shots from 3-point range and hit a solid 33% (8 for 24). When Schaeffer was able to shoot, it was mostly from beyond the 3-point arc. But the home team hit only 3 of 13 treys (23%). The big-city Lions hit two of their first three shots for an early 6-6 tie, but then came the torrent of turnovers. It was 38-13 at halftime.
Grove’s defensive dominance was accompanied by commensurate superiority on the glass. The boys gathered three times as many rebounds as did their hosts (33 to 11), the most remarkable ratio in the last 80 games. And Schaeffer had zero, zilch, no offensive rebounds.
With this third straight win over Schaeffer, the Grove guys are 22-2 all-time versus those other Lions.
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VARSITY vs. MABEL-CANTON
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 34 + 33 = 67
>>MC 13 + 19 = 32
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 39% (19-49), MC 38% (11-29)
2-pt FG: SG 47% (15-32), MC 53% (9-17)
3-pt FG: SG 23% (4-17), MC 17% (2-12)
Free throws: SG 76% (25-33), MC 53% (8-15); Rebounds: SG 26, MC 19; Turnovers: SG 11, MC 29; 2nd Chance points: SG 21, MC 11; Fast break points: SG 16, MC 5; Points in paint: SG 50, MC 21; Greatest lead: SG 39, MC 0; Fouls: SG 19, MC 15
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Caleb Griffin 16P, 1R, 1A, 3S; Nathan Crouch 1S; *Tysen Grinde 15P, 7R, 2A, 7S, 2B; *Hunter Holland 3R, 1A; Josh Newgaard no stats; Ethan Crouch 3R, 1S, 1B; Logan Brumm 2P, 1A, 3S; Jacob Olerud 8P, 2A; Bryce Berns 1P, 1R; *Carson Gerard 11P, 6R, 1A, 2S;’ *Jaxon Strinmoen 6P, 1S; *Elijah Solum 8P, 5R, 1A, 1S
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VARSITY vs. SCHAEFFER ACADEMY
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 38+20=58
>>SA 13+ 1 =14
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 42% (23-55), SA 22% (4-18)
2-pt FG: SG 48% (15-31), SA 20% (1-5)
3-pt FG: SG 33% (8-24), SA 23% (3-13)
Free throws: SG 57% (4-7), SA 60% (3-5); Rebounds: SG 33, SA 11; Turnovers: SG 7, SA 25; 2nd Chance points: SG 19, SA 0; Fast break points: SG 16, SA 0; Points in paint: SG 30, SA 5; Greatest lead: SG 45, SA 0; Fouls: SG 10, SA 8
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Caleb Griffin 6P, 5R, 2A, 3S; Isaac Nerstad 2R, 1S; *Tysen Grinde 20P, 9R, 7A, 6S; *Hunter Holland 2P, 6R, 2A, 1S; Ethan Crouch 2R, 1S; Logan Brumm 2R, 1A, 1S; Jacob Olerud 2R; Carson Gerard out illness; *Jaxon Strinmoen 2A, 3S; *Elijah Solum 30P, 5R, 3S, 1B
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B-TEAM vs. MABEL-CANTON
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG .28 + 19 = 47
>>MC 14 + 16 = 30
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 40% (18-45), MC 33% (13-39)
2-pt FG: SG 48% (15-31), MC 31% (11-36)
3-pt FG: SG 21% (3-14), MC 67% (2-3)
Free throws: SG 57% (8-14), MC 17% (2-12); Rebounds: SG 34, MC 26; Turnovers: SG 18, MC 17; Greatest lead: SG 17, MC 0; Fouls: SG 13, MC 15
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Caleb Eiken no stats; *Nathan Crouch 10P, 6R, 1A, 3S, 3B; *Isaac Nerstad 6P, 3R, 2A, 3S; *Ethan Crouch 3R%, 3A, 5S; Ben Udstuen 1R, 1A; Troy Reinhardt 2P; Josh Newgaard 8P, 3R; Zach Brumm 1R, 1S; *Jacob Olerud 9P, 7R, 4A; *Bryce Berns 6P, 3R, 1S, 1B; Ezra Griffin 2P; Gavin Ostern 4P, 3R, 1A, 2B; Shawn Crouch 4R
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B-TEAM vs. SCHAEFFER
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 16+13+4=33
>>SA 12+17+5=34
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 33% (12-36), SA 38% (13-34)
2-pt FG: SG 33% (6-18), SA 35% (9-26)
3-pt FG: SG 33% (6-18), SA 50% (4-8)
Free throws: SG 33% (3-9), SA 57% (4-7)
Rebounds: SG 19, SA 25; Turnovers: SG 14, SA 20; Greatest lead: SG 4, SA 6; Fouls: SG 9, SA 11
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. Caleb Eiken no stats; Isaac Nerstad 15P, 1R, 2S, 1B; Ethan Crouch 3R, 3A, 1S; Ben Udstuen 2R; Troy Reinhardt 1R; Josh Newgaard 2P, 2R, 1A, 1B; Zach Brumm 3R, 1A, 1S; Jacob Olerud 2P, 1A, 4S; Bryce Berns 3P, 1R; Ezra Griffin no stats; Gavin Ostern 2R, 1S, 1B; Shawn Crouch 4P, 2R, 1S, 2B
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Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2021-’22 (*conference game)
7-2 (5-0 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
W at Southland*59-37
W vs. Lanesboro* 70-34
>>>Rushford-Peterson Christmas Invite
L at Rushford-Peterson 41-53
W vs. Dover-Eyota 44-33
W at Mabel-Canton* 67-32
W at Schaeffer Academy*58-14
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*
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B-team Boys Basketball 4-3 (3-2 SEC)
W vs. Houston 45-14
L at Southland 34-51
W vs. Lanesboro 49-33
L at Rushford-Peterson 31-59
W vs. Dover-Eyota 44-33
W at Mabel-Canton 47-30
L at Schaeffer Academy 33-34 overtime
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8th Grade Boys Basketball (3-1)
W vs. Houston 27-23
W vs. Caledonia 30-20
L vs. Lanesboro
W at Mabel-Canton 60-11
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7th Grade Boys Basketball (5-0)
W vs. Houston 44-8
W vs. Caledonia 19-16
W vs. Lanesboro 39-16
W at Mabel-Canton 60-11
W at Schaefer Academy 43-2