It was a gut-punch finish for the Spring Grove boys, who had rallied back from a 10-point, second-half deficit to lead by as many three points. But a late Lion turnover allowed the 8-win Falcons to upset the 22-win Lions, 55-54, at Preston on Feb. 25. In this non-conference, regular-season finale for both teams, Fillmore Central snapped an 11-game, 11-year losing slide in the competitive series, which the Lions still lead 18 wins to 17. The Class A Falcons, who play about half their games against larger Class AA squads, have a 6-7 record against Class A teams and a 3-9 mark against those larger Minnesota schools.
The next day, Spring Grove (22-4) received the No. 4 seed and Fillmore Central (9-17) the No. 11 slot in the 19-team Section 1A Tournament. State-ranked No. 1 Hayfield, the defending state champion, received the top section seed.
The B-team Lions, with a fifth straight win, closed at 16-6 with a quality 66-56 victory against the Falcons, who were within two points of the lead with two minutes to play. Josh Newgaard was a major factor on the low block with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Isaac Nerstad scored 13 points while Bryce Berns added 12 points and 6 boards.
The SG freshman (3-1-1) prevailed 52-35 with 13 points from Gavin Ostern, 11 from Zach Brumm and 10 by Ben Udstuen. The eighth grade boys (7-6) secured a winning record by slipping past Fillmore Central, 34-33. The seventh graders fell, 45-27, but closed with a sterling 15-2 season record.
SG 54, Fillmore Central 55
It was a night of scoring runs while fouls and free throws were critical. An eight-point spurt put Spring Grove ahead, 19-13. But three Lion starters and one Falcon starter missed significant action while a 17-point Falcon run gave Fillmore Central a 10-point advantage just before an eight-point halftime spread, 34-26.
In the 18-minute second half, Falcon fouls had the Lions shooting bonus free throws for the final 10 and half minutes. One Falcon fouled out, and another finished with four fouls.
Back down by 10 points soon after the break, the Grove guys scored eight straight points to close within two. But a 9-to-2 Fillmore run made it a nine-point margin, 47-38. Then momentum swung again with 13 unanswered points for Spring Grove. A rebound basket from Hunter Holland finally put the Lions up, 48-47, with 5:11 remaining – their first lead since 24-22. A three-ball by Elijah Solum made it 51-47. It was 52-49 with 1:48 on the clock.
But FC sophomore Jayce Kiehne would score seven of the Falcons’ final eight points. His traditional 3-point play tied the score at 52-52 at 1:27. Another rebound bucket from Holland put SG ahead 54-52 with 1:04 to go. Fillmore missed a chance to tie it again by hitting only one of two free throws (54-53). The Lions were milking the final 57 seconds, waiting for the Falcons to foul. But Kiehne came up with a steal and then took a Bryce Corson assist pass for a fast-break lay-up to score the winning points with 27 seconds remaining. Spring Grove had the last chance – a good look from the short corner. But the jump shot bounced off the rim, and time elapsed during the struggle for the rebound.
It was highly ironic that the outcome turned on a SG turnover/FC steal. With only eight turnovers (6 ball-handling, 2 fouls), it was the Lions’ 11th straight game with single-digit turnovers. And it was only the fourth Falcon theft of the game.
Kiehne led all scorers with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocked shots and at least three steals. Junior reserve Gunner Benson added 10 points. Corson had 5 assists. The Lions had fairly balanced scoring. Despite sitting out most of the first half in foul trouble, Solum led with 16 points. Tysen Grinde also sat out but had 13 points, 6 rebounds and a game-high 6 steals. Carson Gerard also missed much of the first half before finishing with 9 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Jaxon Strinmoen contributed 8 points and 6 boards.
The foul-burdened trio (Solum, Grinde, Gerard) came back to lead the second-half comeback, but overall, the Lions shot only 32% from the field. The Falcons were better at 41%. The Lions needed to take greater advantage of considerably more free throw opportunities (15 for 24, 63%). Fillmore Central efficiently hit 12 of 15 free throws (80%).
Like most Lion opponents, the Falcons were held below their scoring average (63.5), but they got inside the lane for 38 points, the second most of any opponent in 26 games. And with a 29-28 edge on the backboards, they were one of only seven opponents to out-rebound Spring Grove.
VARSITY at FILLMORE CENTRAL
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 26 + 28 = 54
>>FC 34 + 21 = 55
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 32% (17-53), FC 41% (19-46)
2-pt FG: SG 34% (12-35), FC 50% (14-28)
3-pt FG: SG 28% (5-18), FC 28% (5-18)
Free throws: SG 63% (15-24), FC 80% (12-15); Rebounds: SG 28, FC 29; Turnovers: SG 8, FC 18; 2nd Chance points: SG 12, FC 7; Fast break points: SG 12, FC 10; Points in paint: SG 33, FC 38; Greatest lead: SG 7, FC 10; Fouls: SG 15, FC 20; Fouled out: SG 0, FC 1
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Caleb Griffin 1S; *Tysen Grinde 13P, 6R, 4A, 6S; *Hunter Holland 4P, 4R; Logan Brumm 1A, 1B; Jacob Olerud 4P, 1A; *Carson Gerard9P, 9R, 1A, 1S, 5B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 8P, 6R, 2A, 3S; *Elijah Solum 16P, 3R, 1A, 1S
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B-TEAM at FILLMORE CENTRAL
SG 28 + 38 = 66
FC 26 + 30 = 56
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 50% (24-48), FC 35% (17-49)
2-pt FG: SG 63% (19-30), FC 50% (9-18)
3-pt FG: SG 28% (5-18), FC 26% (8-31)
Free throws: SG 52% (13-25), FC 67% (14-21); Rebounds: SG 28, FC 29; Turnovers: SG 11, FC 14; Greatest lead: SG 10, FC 2; Fouls: SG 18, FC 23; Fouled out: SG 1, FC 0
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 out injured; Kohl Betcher no stats; *Isaac Nerstad 13P, 2R, 2A, 2S; *Ethan Crouch 4P, 3R, 2S, 3B; Ben Udstuen 2P; Troy Reinhardt 1S; *Josh Newgaard 23P, 9R, 1A, 1B; Zach Brumm 4P, 3R, 1S; *Jacob Olerud 5P, 3R, 2A, 1S; *Bryce Berns 12P, 6R, 3A, 3S; Ezra Griffin 1A; Gavin Ostern 3P, 2R, 5A; Shawn Crouch out injured
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FRESHMEN at FILLMORE CENTRAL
SG 35 + 17 = 52
FC 30 + 5 = 35
FRESHMEN TOTALS:
all FG: SG 22, FC 16
2-pt FG: SG 18, FC 12
3-pt FG: SG 4, FC 4
Free throws: SG 4-12, FC 4-6; Fouls: SG 8, FC 12
FRESHMEN SCORING: Gavin Ostern 13, Zach Brumm 11, Ben Udstuen 10, Troy Reinhardt 6, Ezra Griffin 6, Caleb Eiken 4, Bryce Berns 2
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SEC Boys BB
>>EAST DIVISION
Spring Grove* 14-0 SEC (22-4 season)
Lanesboro 9-5 SEC (16-10 season)
Schaeffer Aca. 6-8 SEC (10-16 season
Mabel-Canton 3-11 SEC (8-18 season)
Houston 1-13 SEC (1-24 season)
*division champions
>>WEST DIVISION
Lyle/Pacelli* 13-2 SEC (22-4 season)
Southland 12-3 SEC (16-6 season)
LeRoy-Ostrander 9-6 SEC (16-10 season)
Grand Meadow 7-8 SEC (11-15 season)
Kingsland 6-9 SEC (11-15 season)
Glenville-Emmons 0-15 SEC (1-24 season)
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Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2021-’22
22-4 (14-0 SEC, champion)
W vs. New Hampton, Iowa 45-41
W vs. Houston 71-22
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
W vs. Kingsland (non-conference) 50-35
W vs. Grand Meadow 44-40
W at Houston 72-24
W at La Crescent-Hokah 56-41
L at Martin County West 33-41
W at Madelia 53-23
W at Kingsland 63-38
W vs. Waukon 55-52
W vs. Mabel-Canton 87-22
W vs. Glenville-Emmons 91-34
W at Lanesboro 54-40
W vs. Southland (non-conference) 51-38
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 82-49
W vs. St. Charles 74-19
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 42-38
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli 47-43
L at Fillmore Central 54-55
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B-team Boys Basketball 16-6 (12-4 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
W vs. Kingsland 32-19
W vs. Grand Meadow 49-15
W at Houston 48-23
L at La Crescent-Hokah 39-43
W at Kingsland 48-36
W vs. Waukon 51-29
W vs. Mabel-Canton 39-35
W vs. Glenville-Emmons 58-25
L at Lanesboro 47-51
L vs. Southland 31-38
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 55-16
W vs. St. Charles 61-39
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 42-38
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli 47-43
W at Fillmore Central 66-56
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Freshmen Boys Basketball (3-1-1)
W at La Crescent-Hokah 36-20
T at Kingsland 36-36
W vs. Mabel-Canton 29-19 (played only one half)
L vs. Southland 27-42
W at Fillmore Central 52-35
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8th Grade Boys Basketball (7-6)
W vs. Houston 27-23
W vs. Caledonia 30-20
L vs. Lanesboro 21-40
W at Mabel-Canton 54-41
W at Houston 34-21
L vs. Mabel-Canton 17-36
L at Lanesboro 31-49
L at Caledonia 31-43
W vs. (Lansing) Kee 34-23
L at LeRoy-Ostrander 27-32
L vs. South Winneshiek 25-47
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 40-25
W at Fillmore Central 34-33
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7th Grade Boys Basketball (15-2)
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
W vs. Kingsland 42-18
W vs. Grand Meadow 44-11
W at Houston 51-9
W vs. Kingsland 39-26
W vs. Mabel-Canton 38-16
W at Lanesboro 35-20
L at Caledonia 33-34
W vs. (Lansing) Kee 40-32
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 54-14
W vs. South Winneshiek 51-19
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 48-26
L at Fillmore Central 27-45