The Spring Grove girls had to close the regular season on the road against both of the conference division champions. There were a pair of 41-point decisions by almost the same scores, 67-26 at Houston on March 11 and 68-27 the next night at Spring Valley versus Kingsland. It did not help that leading scorer Jordian Leahy remained on the injured list all week.
The next day, Houston (14-0, 13-0 SEC) would receive the No. 1 seed and Kingsland (14-2, 12-1 SEC) the No. 3 nod in this week’s Section 1A Tournament. The Lions (3-12, 3-11 SEC) received the No. 15 seed and travel to No. 2 Blooming Prairie (15-3) on March 18.
Spring Grove was left behind quickly at Houston, but the Lions were tied halfway through the first half at Kingsland. But turnovers were too many on both nights.
The Lion B-team (0-11) could also not keep up with the Hurricanes and Knights. With a seventh grade lineup, Spring Grove (7-3) won both eighth grade games, 23-22 and 25-22. With a sixth grade lineup, the Lions (2-6) dropped both seventh grade contests, 19-34 and 24-41.
Spring Grove 26, at Houston 67
The Lions had practiced against Houston’s trapping zone defense, but the long-armed and more mature Hurricanes were too athletic and too experienced. That defense completely controlled the contest with a stunning 44 steals leading to 39 of the ‘Canes’ 47 fast break points. The Lions shot reasonably well, especially from 2-point range (44%), but they did not shoot very often – with far more turnovers than shot attempts.
The Grove girls held a 27-to-21 margin on the backboards, led by Katelyn Kraus’ 8-rebound effort. Addyson McHugh scored 10 points and rebounded 5 times.
It was the second meeting with the undefeated ‘Canes in eight days. Already two-time All-SEC senior Emma Geiwitz, who had singed the net for 27 points the preceding week at Spring Grove, matched the Lion team total in this rematch by pouring in 26. Sophomore Sydney Torgerson added 19 points.
The Hurricanes have now won three consecutive SEC East Division championships. It was Houston’s ninth straight win in the series, which Spring Grove dominates, 84 wins to 17.
>>SG 26, Houston 67
>>SG..11+15=26
>>Hou 47+20=67
all FG: SG 36% (10-28), Hou 42% (27-64)
2-pt FG: SG 44% (8-18), Hou 45% (25-55)
3-pt FG: SG 20% (2-10), Hou 22% (2-9)
Free throws: SG 50% (4-8), Hou 79% (11-14); Rebounds: SG 27, Hou 21; Turnovers: SG 54, Hou 16; 2nd Chance points: SG 6, Hou 5; Fast break points: SG 12, Hou 47; Points in paint: SG 20, Hou 61; Greatest lead: SG 0, Hou 47; Fouls: SG 11, Hou 11
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Sydney Holland 2R; *Ava Olerud 3P; Kendal Van Minsel 2R, 2A, 1S; *Addyson McHugh 10P, 5R, 2S; McKenzie Fisch 3P, 2R; *Lydia Solum 2R, 2A, 1S; Erika Donlan 1R; Jordian Leahy out injured; *Emerson Ingvalson 6P, 5R, 4S; *Katelyn Kraus 4P, 8R, 1A, 1S, 1B
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>>B-TEAM: SG 20, Houston 47
>>SG…14+ 6=20
>>Hou 26+21=47
B-TEAM SCORING: Kendal Van Minsel 4, Cierra Blaskowski 4, Jordis Neeley 4, Erika Donlan 3, Ashlyn Hammel 3, Hailie Kittleson 2
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Spring Grove 27, at Kingsland 68
There were five early lead changes and three tie scores during the first nine minutes, but then the roof caved in as the Knights closed the half with a 26-to-1 run and then extended the scoring streak with the first six points of the second half.
There were again plenty of steals and transition lay-ups, which helped Kingsland shoot 58% from the field – a season-best for a Lion opponent. Both teams shot a strong 38% from 3-point land, but with half as many turnovers, the Knights shot more often. Kingsland went 6 for 16 beyond the arc, while the Lions hit 3 of 8 treys.
McHugh contributed 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots. Emerson Ingvalson added another 9 points while Kraus scored 6 points and grabbed 5 boards.
Three Knights supplied double-digit scoring with 16 points from senior Ellie Buchholtz, 14 from sophomore Anika Reiland and 12 from senior Samantha Wernimont. It was the sixth straight win for Kingsland in the series which the Knights now lead 7 wins to 3.
>>SG 27, KHS 68
>>SG…13+14=27
>>KHS 38+30=68
all FG: SG 32% (9-28), KHS 58% (28-49)
2-pt FG: SG 30% (6-20), KHS 67% (22-33)
3-pt FG: SG 38% (3-8), KHS 38% (6-16)
Free throws: SG 55% (6-11), KHS 43% (6-14); Rebounds: SG 17, KHS 23; Turnovers: SG 30, KHS 15; 2nd Chance points: SG 2, KHS 7; Fast break points: SG 2, KHS 31; Points in paint: SG 11, KHS 48; Greatest lead: SG 2, KHS 41; Fouls: SG 10, KHS 12
SG INDIVIDUALS: Sydney Holland 1R; *Ava Olerud 1R; Ashlyn Hammel no stats; Kendal Van Minsel no stats; *Addyson McHugh 9P, 6R, 3S, 2B; Katie Klug no stats; McKenzie Fisch 1P, 1R, 1A, 1S; *Lydia Solum 1R, 2A, 1S; Jordis Neeley no stats; Erika Donlan 2P; Jordian Leahy out injured; *Emerson Ingvalson 9P, 2R, 1A, 1S; *Katelyn Kraus 6P, 5R, 1A, 1S
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>>B-TEAM: SG 12, Kingsland 47
>>SG…..6 + 6=12
>>KHS 27+20=47
B-TEAM SCORING: Kendal Van Minsel 5, Hailie Kittleson 2, Katie Klug 2, Jordis Neeley 2, Erika Donlan 1
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>>SEC EAST DIVISION
Houston 13-0 SEC, 14-0 season
Randolph 11-1 SEC, 13-1 season
Lanesboro 8-7 SEC, 9-9 season
Mabel-Canton 4-11 SEC, 4-14 season
Spring Grove 3-11 SEC, 3-12 season
Schaeffer Aca. 0-15 SEC, 1-15 season
>>SEC WEST DIVISION
Kingsland 12-1 SEC, 14-2 season
Grand Meadow 8-4 SEC, 9-7 season
Southland 9-5 SEC, 10-8 season
LeRoy-Ostrander 5-8 SEC, 5-10 season
Lyle/Pacelli 2-12 SEC, 2-16 season
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Spring Grove Girls Basketball 2021. >>3 wins, 12 losses (3-11 SEC)
L vs. Grand Meadow 20-36
L at Rushford-Peterson 28-44
L at Mabel-Canton 31-34
W at Schaeffer Academy 47-39
01/28 Randolph, canceled
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 41-37
L at Randolph 25-65
L vs. Mabel-Canton 30-41
L vs. Lanesboro 45-66
L at Lanesboro 38-53
L at LeRoy-Ostrander 47-65
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli 56-49
L vs Houston 23-63
L at Southland 24-68
L at Houston 26-67
L at Kingsland 27-68
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B-team Girls Basketball 2021 >>0 wins, 11 losses
L vs. Grand Meadow 12-50
L at Rushford-Peterson 14-36
L at Randolph 8-43
L vs. Mabel-Canton 17-40
L vs. Lanesboro 12-34
L at Lanesboro 23-37
L vs. Lyle/Pacelli 16-31
L vs. Houston 8-48
L at Southland 23-39
L at Houston 20-47
L at Kingsland 12-47
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8th Grade Girls Basketball 2021 >>7 wins, 3 losses
W at Schaeffer Academy 28-26
L vs Houston 13-34
W vs. Mabel-Canton 25-17
W vs. Randolph 27-26
L vs. Lanesboro 19-34
L at Lanesboro 12-33
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 29-16
W at Mabel-Canton 37-24
W at Houston 23-22
W at Kingsland 25-22
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7th Grade Girls Basketball 2021 >>2 wins, 6 losses
L vs. Houston 10-22
W vs Schaeffer 22-16
L vs. Randolph 17-23
L vs. Lanesboro 12-29
L at Lanesboro 10-33
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 28-18
L at Houston 19-34
L at Kingsland 24-41