For the young Spring Grove girls, it was a daunting challenge at the snowy 2021 Rushford-Peterson Christmas Invite on Dec. 28-29. After being shelved by the Class A host team, 61-19, the Lions then faced one of the area’s strongest Class AA squads, Dover-Eyota. The Grove girls shot and rebounded better and scored more, but they could not keep up with the Eagles during a 77-37 loss.
Photo by Lee Epps
Both opponents opened with full-court defensive pressure. The Trojans dropped back after taking a 15-4 lead. But the Eagles applied backcourt pressure about three-fourths of the game, by which time they led by 37 points. It was the first-ever meeting with Dover-Eyota. Rushford-Peterson, with a second straight win against SG, now leads all-time 35 wins to 19.
The Lions dropped to 3-8 but still own a winning 3-2 record in conference play. R-P improved to 6-4 and D-E to 9-2. Class A Randolph (2-8), the fourth team in action, was also overwhelmed by both D-E (84-39) and R-P (62-45).
In addition to the four girls and four boys varsity games, there was the same slate for the B-teams. The Lion B-team left with a 4-5 season record after 44-9 loss to Rushford-Peterson and 59-9 setback against Dover-Eyota.
SG 19, Rushford-Peterson 61
The Lions scored first with an assist pass from Katelyn Kraus to Jordian Leahy, but the Trojans would soon score on eight straight possessions to assume complete control. R-P junior forward Kaylee Ruberg finished with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double while sophomore Ellie Ekern added 13 points and 6 rebounds.
Despite 7 rebounds from Lion freshman Kendal Van Minsel, the Trojans out-boarded Spring Grove, 45 to 18, and scored 24 second-chance points. Spring Grove shot only 18% from the field (7 for 39) and got to the foul line for only seven free throws (4 for 7). On defense, the Lions blocked six shots and were whistled for a season-best six fouls.
SG 37, Dover-Eyota 77
Lion shooting improved and there were more free throw attempts (8 for 14). Addyson McHugh scored 13 points and Leahy 10. But there were more fouls (17), and the Eagles feasted at the foul line, netting 20 of 30 charity attempts. Spring Grove was more competitive on the backboards, outrebounded only 33 to 27. However, the girls were victimized by the Eagles’ backcourt defensive pressure, which forced 17 of the 40 Lion turnovers. D-E scored 39 fast-break points, most resulting from 33 steals. Senior Malia Nelson poured in 26 points.
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VARSITY vs. RUSHFORD-PETERSON
>>SG 10 + 9 = 19
>>RP 37 + 24 = 61
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 18% (7-39), RP 43% (28-65)
2-pt FG: SG 19% (6-32), RP 45% (25-55)
3-pt FG: SG 14% (1-7), RP 30% (3-10); Free throws: SG 57% (4-7), RP 40% (2-5); Rebounds: SG 18, RP 45; Turnovers: SG 22, RP 14; 2nd Chance points: SG 2, RP 24; Fast break points: SG 2, RP 15; Points in paint: SG 16, RP 10; Greatest lead: SG 2, RP 43; Fouls: SG 6, RP 11
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Siri Konkel 1R, 1A, 2S, 1B; *Lydia Solum 1R, 1S, 1B; Sydney Holland 2P, 1R, 1A, 1S, 1B; Addison Halverson no stats; Ava Olerud no stats; Kendal Van Minsel2P, 7R, 1B; Kati Klug 1R; *Addyson McHugh 4P, 1R, 1A, 3S; Cierra Blaskowski no stats; *Jordian Leahy 6P, 2R, 1A, 1S, 1B; Emerson Ingvalson 5P, 4R, 1B; *Katelyn Kraus 1S
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VARSITY vs. DOVER-EYOTA
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 28 + 9 = 37
>>DE 48 + 29 = 77
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 35% (13-37), DE 40% (27-67)
2-pt FG: SG 38% (10-26), DE 46% (24-52)
3-pt FG: SG 27% (3-11), DE 20% (3-15)
Free throws: SG 57% (8-14, DE 67% (20-30); Rebounds: SG 27, DE 33; Turnovers: SG 40, DE 10; 2nd Chance points: SG 11, DE 12; Fast break points: SG 6, DE 39; Points in paint: SG 20, DE 56; Greatest lead: SG 0, DE 44; Fouls: SG 17, DE 16
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Siri Konkel 3R, 1S; *Lydia Solum 2P, 1R, 4A, 2S; Sydney Holland 1R, 1A; *Addison Halverson 2P; Ava Olerud no stats, ; Kendal Van Minsel 4P, 3R, 2A, 1B; Kati Klug no stats; *Addyson McHugh 13P, 5R, 1A, 1S, 1B; Kylie Hammel out injured; Carlie Halverson no stats; Cierra Blaskowski no stats; *Jordian Leahy 10P, 5R, 1A, 1S; *Emerson Ingvalson 2P, 5R, 2A, 1S, 1B; Katelyn Kraus 4P, 4R, 1S
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B-TEAM vs. RUSHFORD-PETERSON
SG 2 + 7 = 9
RP 21 + 23 = 44
Free throws: SG 2-4, RP 3-7
INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Hailey Normann 4, Hailie Kittleson 3, Katie Klug 2
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B-TEAM vs. DOVER-EYOTA
SG 7 + 2 = 9
DE 34 + 25 = 59
Free throws: SG 1-2, DE
INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Elle Berns 6, Addison Halverson 2, Hailey Normann 1
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Spring Grove Girls Basketball 2021-’22 (approximate 7:15 tipoff unless noted) *conference game
>>>3 wins, 8 losses (3-2 SEC)
W at Schaeffer Academy* 60-27
L vs. Decorah, Iowa 14-69
L vs. New Hampton, Iowa 38-57
L at Triton 38-70
L at Houston* 32-58
W vs. Mabel-Canton*43-38
W vs. Southland*54-45
L St. Charles 39-48
L at Lanesboro* 35-58
>>>Rushford-Peterson Christmas Invite
L at Rushford-Peterson 19-61
L vs. Dover-Eyota 37-77
Fri. 01/07 Schaeffer Academy* 6 pm
Tues. 01/11 at Grand Meadow*
Tues. 01/18 Houston*
Thur. 01/20 at LeRoy-Ostrander (non-conference)
Mon. 01/24 at Waukon, Iowa 7:30 pm
Tues. 01/25 Kingsland*
Thur. 01/27 at Mabel-Canton*
Mon. 01/31 Lewiston-Altura
Fri. 01/04 Lanesboro*
Sat. 02/05 at Plainview-Elgin-Millville 1:30 pm
Tues. 02/08 Fillmore Central
Thur. 02/10 Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons
Fri. 02/11 LeRoy-Ostrander*
Mon. 02/14 at Southland (non-conference)
Fri. 02/18 at Lyle/Pacelli* (at Lyle)
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Spring Grove B-team Girls (4-5)
L vs. Decorah 17-36
W at Triton 40-33
L at Houston 32-40
W vs. Mabel-Canton 34-20
L vs. Southland 28-36
W vs. St. Charles 35-27
W at Lanesboro 28-21
L at Rushford-Peterson 9-44
L vs. Dover-Eyota 9-59
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Spring Grove 8th Grade Girls (0-4)
L vs. Lansing Kee 18-46
L at Houston 25-36
L at South Winneshiek 19-23
L at Lanesboro 25-26
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Spring Grove 7th Grade Girls (3-1)
L vs. Lansing Kee 22-31
W at Houston 46-18
W at South Winneshiek 25-13
W at Lanesboro 25-15