The Spring Grove boys (3-1) matched a program-record 65 points before halftime on the way to an 83-39 rout of Higher Ground Academy (1-4) on Dec. 28, the second day of holiday double headers at Rushford-Peterson. It is the first season of basketball for the players from the St. Paul school, which had lost to R-P, 86-47, the day before.
Photo by Lee Epps
Photo by Lee Epps
Jaxon Strinmoen, hitting 11 of 14 shots, scored a career-high 24 points while Elijah Solum added 19 points, Tysen Grinde 14 and Caleb Griffin 11. The Lions shot a hot 52% from the field, scoring 49 points inside the free throw lane and firing a season-best 35% with 3-point attempts (8 for 23).
Seven of the 12 Lion turnovers came late, during the final couple of minutes. Five Grove guys had assists without a turnover, paced by Grinde with 5 assists, Ethan Crouch 4 assists. Solum 3 assists, Hunter Holland 3 and Caleb Griffin 1.
Higher Ground was decimated by the Lions’ trapping, half-court defense, which forced 13 of the Panthers’ 27 turnovers. Grinde was productive on defense with 4 steals and a pair of blocked shots. Holland took 2 charges and Griffin 1. Eleven Lions contributed to a season-high 37 rebounds with Strinmoen and Solum securing 6 boards each plus 5 caroms for Jacob Olerud.
The B-team (4-0) coasted to a 52-13 win with Nathan Crouch scoring 12 points, almost matching the Panther team total. Freshman Devon Williams pulled down 9 rebounds and Shawn Crouch 7.
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SG 83, HGA 39
SCORE by HALVES
SG 65+18=83
HGA 16+23=39
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 52% (36-69), HGA 33% (15-46)
2-pt FG: SG 61% (28-46), HGA 46% (13-28)
3-pt FG: SG 35% (8-23), HGA 11% (2-18)
Free throws: SG 50% (3-6), HGA 64% (7-11)
Rebounds: SG 37, HGA 23; Turnovers: SG 12, HGA 27; 2nd Chance pts: SG 15, HGA 5; Fast break pts: SG 25, HGA 11; Pts. in paint: SG 49, HGA 26; Greatest lead: SG 61, HGA 1; Fouls: SG 16, HGA 14
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Caleb Griffin 11P, 2R, 1A, 1S; Nathan Crouch 1R; Isaac Nerstad 3R, 1A; *Tysen Grinde 14P, 2R, 5A, 4S, 2B; Hunter Holland 2R, 3A, 2S; Josh Newgaard 5P, 2R, 1A, 1S; *Ethan Crouch 4R, 4A, 1S, 2B; Logan Brumm out injured; *Jacob Olerud 8P, 5R, 1A; Bryce Berns 4R; Dane Edgington 2P; *Jaxon Strinmoen 24P, 6R, 2A, 2S; *Elijah Solum 19P, 6R, 3A, 2S
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Spring Grove Boys BB 2023
* SEC game, home games in bold
3 wins, 1 loss (2-0 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
Tues. 01-03 Lyle/Pacelli*
Thur. 01-05 at Southland*
Sat. 01-07 Mankato Loyola, 2 p.m. (Breakdown Classic at Byron)
Tues. 01-10 Grand Meadow
Fri. 01-13 at Mabel-Canton*
Mon. 01-16 at Schaeffer Academy*
Tues. 01-17 Houston*
Thur. 01-19 Lanesboro*
Mon. 01-23 at Kingsland*
Tues. 01-24 La Crescent-Hokah
Thu. 01-26 Schaeffer Academy*
Tues. 01-31 at LeRoy-Ostrander*
Thur. 02-02 Glenville-Emmons*
Fri. 02-03 at Lyle/Pacelli*(Lyle)
Mon. 02-06 Fillmore Central
Thur. 02-09 Southland*
Sat. 02-11 Rushford-Peterson 5:45 pm
Mon. 02-13 Kingsland*
Tues. 02-14 LeRoy-Ostrander
Fri. 02-17 at Grand Meadow*
Mon. 02-20 Mabel-Canton*
Fri. 02-24 at Houston*
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Spring Grove B-team
4 wins, 0 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
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Spring Grove 8th Grade
1 win, 1 loss
W at Lanesboro 48-24
L at Caledonia 29-37
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Spring Grove 7th Grade
0 wins, 2 losses
W at Lanesboro 48-24
L a Caledonia 23-26