In a highly-anticipated state-ranked showdown near the state line, No. 11 Spring Grove slipped past No. 10 Lyle/Pacelli, 46-40, on Feb. 3. Half (five) of the 10 starters were returning all-conference standouts. The gymnasium at Lyle was packed with fired-up fans, and there was live radio coverage along with television cameramen. The Athletics (17-3, 14-1 SEC) rallied from a stunning-slow start with a salvo of 3-point field goals, but ultimately, they were undone by turnovers. The Lions (17-1, 14-0 SEC) prevailed with superior ball-handling, steals and just enough free throws.
Photo by Lee Epps
After an early scoring drought, the Athletics never led, but they did catch up, and the outcome was much in doubt until Lion junior Jacob Olerud sank both ends of a pressure-packed 1-and-1 free throw trip with 16 seconds remaining. That gave the Lions a four-point lead, and then Olerud created the final six-point margin with a mid-court steal and breakaway lay-up.
Each team scored its fewest points of the season in a classic defensive struggle. Ball-handling was determinate as Spring Grove had only 8 turnovers, while Lyle/Pacelli lost possession 21 times, including 15 Lion steals. That allowed Spring Grove to survive a season-low 37% shooting. L/P shot only 38% but had twice as many 3-point baskets with 8 treys to 4 for SG.
No one could have imagined the start as L/P did not score for the first six minutes and 46 seconds. The Lions scored the first 14 points, but the Athletics scored the next 9 with back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by Jake Truckenmiller. All five L/P field goals in the first half were launched beyond the 3-point arc. After Truckenmiller’s trio of treys, Spring Grove’s Elijah Solum answered with a 3-ball before L/P’s Buay Koak made it five straight triples that had the fans in a frenzy.
The A’s finished with eight treys and eight baskets inside the arc. But there were no free throws. For the second time in the last three Spring Grove games, the opponent did not get to the foul line, 0 for 0. The Lions got few free throw chances as well, but they hit 4 of 9 charity shots on the way to 4-point lead with 16 seconds remaining.
Fast breaks were also few, but the Lions had the only six transition points in a game decided by six points. Steals triggered all three fast break buckets.
The Athletics never led, but were back within four points (19-15) at halftime. They caught up at 32-32 with 8:24 on the second half clock. They pulled even again at 34-all with 7:02 to play. Lion senior Tysen Grinde broke that last tie with a driving basket with about six minutes remaining. Trailing 42-40, L/P was forced to foul several times before finally sending a Lion to the foul line.
Koak, the reigning Conference Player of the Year, had been held to only three points (1 for 9 shooting) until he came to the rescue, drilling 4 of 5 shots (L/P’s final eight points) to keep his team within two points. But with 21 seconds remaining, his final, possibly game-tying attempt slipped off the rim, rebounded by Solum. Then Olerud delivered from the free throw line.
Strinmoen rebounded 5 times and hit 5 of 9 shots, three of which with a high degree of difficulty, to lead Lion scoring with 11 points. Caleb Griffin added 10 points with 9 from Olerud plus 7 each from Solum and Tysen Grinde. Solum had 7 of the Lions’ 10 assists plus 4 steals, 4 rebounds and a blocked shot. Grinde had 11 rebounds, almost half of the team’s 24 caroms. Ethan Crouch (2 points) had 2 rebounds, a steal and two blocked shots along with an assist and no turnovers.
Truckenmiller had a game-high 15 points, all from 3-point land. Koak finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.
Neither this game nor the upcoming Feb. 25 rematch at Spring Grove will likely determine a regular season championship, since both teams have a stranglehold on their respective Southeast Conference races – SG in the SEC East Division and L/P in the SEC West. There is no overall SEC champion. However, postseason seeding is still on the line.
In the B-team game, Spring Grove (13-3) rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to win 26-24. A Ben Udstuen free throw tied the score with14 seconds left. He missed the go-ahead, second free throw, but Gavin Ostern rebounded and scored the winning basket with 10 seconds to go.
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SG 46, L/P 40
SCORE by HALVES
SG 19+27=46
L/P 15+25=40
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 37% (19-52), L/P 38% (16-42)
2-pt FG: SG 42% (15-36), L/P 35% (8-23)
3-pt FG: SG 25% (4-16), L/P 42% (8-19)
Free throws: SG 44% (4-9); L/P 0% (0-0)
Rebounds: SG 24, L/P 31 ; Turnovers: SG 8, L/P 21; 2nd Chance pts: SG 5, L/P 7; Fast break pts: SG 6, L/P 0; Pts. in paint: SG 26, L/P 12; Greatest lead: SG 14, L/P 0; Fouls: SG 10, L/P 14
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin 10P, 1S; *Tysen Grinde 7P, 11R, 5S; Hunter Holland no stats; Jacob Olerud 9P, 2R, 2A, 2S; *Jaxon Strinmoen 11P, 5R, 2S, 2B; *Elijah Solum 7P, 4R, 7A, 4S, 1B
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Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2023
* SEC game, home games in bold
17 wins, 1 loss (14-0 SEC)
W at Lanesboro* 71-52
W at Glenville-Emmons* 75-27
L vs. Dawson-Boyd 57-66
W vs. Higher Ground Academy 83-39
W at Southland* 57-33
W vs. Mankato Loyola 61-54
W at Grand Meadow 64-27
W at Mabel-Canton*85-36
W at Schaeffer Academy* 69-37
W vs. Houston*67-21
W vs. Lanesboro*60-46
W at Kingsland*72-37
W vs. La Crescent-Hokah 66-63
W vs. Schaeffer Academy*65-35
W vs. LeRoy-Ostrander* 81-27
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 93-24
W vs. Glenville-Emmons*72-31
W at Lyle/Pacelli*46-40
Mon. 02-06 Fillmore Central
Thur. 02-09 Southland*
Sat. 02-11 Rushford-Peterson 5:45 pm
Mon. 02-13 Kingsland*
Thur. 02-16 at LeRoy-Ostrander*
Fri. 02-17 Grand Meadow*
Mon. 02-20 Mabel-Canton*
Fri. 02-24 at Houston*
Sat. 02-25 Lyle/Pacelli (approx. 5:15 p.m.)
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Spring Grove B-team
13 wins, 3 losses
W at Lanesboro 45-20
W at Glenville-Emmons 53-31
W vs. Dawson-Boyd 34-30
W vs. Higher Ground Academy 52-13
L at Southland 35-47
W vs. Loyola 46-23
W at Mabel-Canton 45-9
Wat Schaeffer Academy 61-25
W vs. Houston 52-19
W vs. Lanesboro 35-24
L at Kingsland 41-44
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 30-31
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 49-25
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 54-18
W vs. Glenville-Emmons 57-36
W at Lyle/Pacelli 26-24
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Spring Grove 8th Grade
6 wins, 4 losses
W at Lanesboro 48-24
L at Caledonia 29-37
L at Southland 41-55
W at Grand Meadow 48-14
W at Mabel-Canton 53-30
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