All three home games were decided by single-digit margins; the Spring Grove girls won both conference contests – a 43-38 decision against Mabel-Canton and a 54-45 escape versus Southland – before dropping a 48-39 non-conference clash with St. Charles. The Lions came from behind to subdue the Cougars on Monday (Dec. 13), but Spring Grove lost a huge 21-point lead before surviving Southland on Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, the Lions lost a substantial the lead again but could not recover versus the Saints. Each team in each game could not cash in at the free throw line.
Photo by Lee Epps
Grove snapped a four-game losing streak against Mabel-Canton; the Cougars cling to a 55-54 edge in the all-time series. The Lions ended a two-game slide against Southland; the Rebels lead the series, 9 wins to 8. It was the first meeting with St. Charles in 15 years; the Saints have won all four games against Spring Grove.
Spring Grove ended the week at 3-5 (3-1 SEC) while Mabel-Canton dropped to 1-5 (1-3 SEC) and Southland went home at 2-5 (2-3 SEC). It was the second win for Class AA St. Charles (2-7) with both wins against Class A competition.
The Lion B-team (3-3) defeated Mabel-Canton, 34-20, and St. Charles, 35-27, but in between fell to Southland, 36-28. Kylie Hammel led Lion scoring in each game, including 17-points versus the Saints.
SG 43, Mabel-Canton 38
Addyson McHugh matched a career-high 24 points and pulled down a team-high 7 rebounds to go with 3 steals and 2 blocked shots. Lydia Solum passed out a career-best 5 assists as the Lions overcame a slow start and second-half frustration at the free throw line. Spring Grove hit only 5 of 20 free throws, but Mabel-Canton netted only 5 of 15.
From the field, both teams shot well early, but the Lions – also burdened by six turnovers during 10 possessions – faced their greatest deficit at 20-12. Meanwhile, the Cougars had successfully executed their offense with only one turnover through their first 17 possessions. But then, Mabel-Canton shots no longer found the net, and Spring Grove scored nine unanswered points to lead 21-20. That lead lasted only seconds, but after three lead changes in the last minute of the first half, the Lions went into the break up 23-22.
McHugh tossed in the first two buckets of the second half, and Mabel-Canton would not catch up. A seven-point run gave the Lions their greatest lead of 11 points (43-32), but they would not score through their final seven possessions, with three turnovers and missing all six free throws But with SG clinging to a seven-point lead in the final minute, two steals by eighth grader Kylie Hammel and freshman Kendal Van Minsel scuttled any remaining Cougar hopes. A driving basket by Mabel-Canton’s Kelly Makenzie closed the scoring with only 11 seconds remaining.
Both attacks were directed by eighth grade point guards – the Lions’ Siri Konkel and the Cougars’ Kinley Soiney. Freshmen played key roles for both clubs: freshman Sydney Holland was the lone Lion with more assists than turnovers. Soiney, with 12 points, and freshman Hope Erickson, with 11 points, led Mabel-Canton scoring and rebounding – each with 9 rebounds. Senior Camryn Cox added 9 points and 7 boards.
Team statistics were extremely close; SG had one fewer rebound and two fewer fouls; The Lions had two more turnovers and blocked one more shot. Each team had 12 assists, 9 steals and 5 made free throws. Spring Grove won with one more 3-point field goal and one more 2-point basket than had Mabel-Canton.
Both teams came in with 1-4 early-season records with both having a win versus Schaeffer Academy and a loss to Houston.
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 23+20= 43
>>MC 22+16= 38
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 39% (17-44), MC 30% (15-50)
2-pt FG: SG 45% (13-29), MC 32% (12-38)
3-pt FG: SG 27% (4-15), MC 25% (3-12)
Free throws: SG 25% (5-20), MC 33% (5-15); Rebounds: SG 33, MC 34; Turnovers: SG 18, MC 16; 2nd Chance points: SG 4, MC 10; Fast break points: SG 2, MC 8; Points in paint: SG 21, MC 23; Greatest lead: SG 11, MC 8; Fouls: SG 19, MC 21; Fouled out: SG – Leahy
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Siri Konkel 3P, 5R, 2A; *Lydia Solum 2P, 5R, 5A, 1S; Sydney Holland 2P, 2A, 1B; Ava Olerud no stats; Kendal Van Minsel 2P, 3R, 2S; *Addyson McHugh 21P, 7R, 2A, 3S, 2B; Kylie Hammel 4P, 2R, 2S, 1B; *Jordian Leahy 5P, 6R, 1A; Emerson Ingvalson out injured; *Katelyn Kraus 4P, 5R, 1S, 1B
SG 54, Southland 45
Spring Grove saw a 21-point second-half lead completely disappear when the Rebels pulled even at 42-all with 4:40 to play. But the Lions then closed with a 12-to-3 run to win by nine. Spring Grove went scoreless through 13 possessions (7 turnovers) while Southland scored 17 unanswered points to get back within four at 33-29. The Rebels tied the score but never took the lead as they struggled with four late turnovers. Meanwhile, the Lions hit only 5 of 10 free throws down the stretch, but they survived with three late steals by Katelyn Kraus while Jordian Leahy scored 10 of her game-high 23 points in the final four minutes.
Kraus finished with a career-high 8 steals to go with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists with no turnovers. McHugh supplied 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot. Solum had another a career-best assist total with 7 helpers along with 6 points and 6 boards. Van Minsel collected another 4 rebounds, but the Rebs won the backboard battle, 34 rebounds to 30. Senior Bailey Johnson netted 19 points for Southland
Lion freshman guard Emerson Ingvalson saw limited action in her first appearance after missing the first six games on the injured list. However, recently-injured senior guard Ava Olerud was out of action for the first time.
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 30 + 24 = 54
>>Sou 10 + 35 = 45
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 38% (20-52), Sou 35% (18-53)
2-pt FG: SG 43% (18-42), Sou 38% (15-40)
3-pt FG: SG 20% (2-10), Sou 23% (3-13)
Free throws: SG 46% (12-26), Sou 50% (6-12); Rebounds: SG 30, Sou 34; Turnovers: SG 21, Sou 27; 2nd Chance points: SG 5, Sou 7; Fast break points: SG 13, Sou 21; Points in paint: SG 37, Sou 33; Greatest lead: SG 21, Sou 0; Fouls: SG 14, Sou 22
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Siri Konkel 1R, 3A; *Lydia Solum 6P, 6R, 7A, 2S; *Sydney Holland 3P, 2R, 1A, 2S; Ava Olerud out injured; Kendal Van Minsel 3P, 4R, 2A; *Addyson McHugh 12P, 3R, 2A, 2S, 1B; Kylie Hammel 1R, 1S; *Jordian Leahy 23P, 8R, 2S; Emerson Ingvalson 1P; *Katelyn Kraus 6P, 5R, 2A, 8S, 2B
SG 39, St. Charles 48
The Lions began with 6-for-8 shooting from the field and led 20-10 before the Saints sliced that margin in half by halftime, 24-19. St. Charles then scored the first six points of the second half to edge ahead 25-24. The lead changed hands four times before the Saints separated with a 7-point run, fueled by a pair of steals and fast-break lay-ups.
Spring Grove ball-handling deteriorated after halftime, losing possession 16 times while able to attempt only 18 shots. Overall, the Lions finished with twice as many turnovers (26) as assists (13). Spring Grove did not shoot well enough from either the field (36%) or the free throw line (31%, 5 for 16) to overcome the lack of shot attempts due to eight more turnovers and 11 fewer offensive rebounds than the visitors. Despite a career-best 9 rebounds from Van Minsel and another 8 boards from Kraus, the Grove girls were outrebounded, 42 to 34. Kraus, with 12 points, was the lone Lion scoring in double figures. Solum put in 9 points and rebounded 5 times.
St. Charles shot only 30% from the field with zero 3-point baskets and missed more free throws than they hit (10 for 23, 43%). But the Saints cashed in with 19 offensive rebounds while outscoring the Lions, 17-0 in second-chance points. While Spring Grove scored 39 points total, the Saints scored 38 points in the lane.
Sophomore point guard Mya Omdahl ran the St. Charles show and also scored a game-high 15 points. The tallest Saint, sophomore Ivy Roberts, had an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double. The Class AA school had only one senior on the roster and started three sophomores.
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 24 + 15 = 39
>>StC 19 + 29 = 48
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 36% (15-42), StC 30% (19-64)
2-pt FG: SG 39%(11-28), StC 33% (19-58)
3-pt FG: SG 29% (4-14), StC 0% (0-6)
Free throws: SG 31% (5-16), StC 43% (10-23); Rebounds: SG 34, StC 42; Turnovers: SG 26, StC 18; 2nd Chance points: SG 0, StC 17; Fast break points: SG 9, StC 13; Points in paint: SG 25, StC 38; Greatest lead: SG 10, StC 9; Fouls: SG 25, StC 18. Fouled out: SG- Solum
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Siri Konkel 1S; *Lydia Solum 9P, 5R, 1A, 3S; *Sydney Holland 4P, 3R, 1A, 1S; Ava Olerud out injured; Kendal Van Minsel 9R, 2A, 2S; *Addyson McHugh 6P, 5R, 2A, 3S, 3B; Kylie Hammel 2R, 1A; *Jordian Leahy 6P, 2A; Emerson Ingvalson 2P, 2R, 2A; *Katelyn Kraus 12P, 8R, 2A, 2B
B-TEAM: SG 34, M-C 20
>>SG 19+15 = 34
>>MC 8+12 = 20
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 14, MC 7
2-pt FG: SG 12, MC 7
3-pt FG: SG 2, MC 0
Free throws: SG 31% (4-13), MC 35% (6-17); Fouls: SG 21, MC 9
INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Kylie Hammel 10, Kendal Van Minsel 8, Elle Berns 5, Siri Konkel 3, Sydney Holland 3, Addison Halverson 3, Cierra Blaskowski 2
B-TEAM: SG 28, Southland 36
SG. 13 + 15 = 28
Sou 21 +15 = 36
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 11, Sou16
2-pt FG: SG 11, Sou 16
3-pt FG: SG 0, Sou 0
Free throws: SG 6-17 (35%), Sou 4-13 (31%); Fouls: SG 14, Sou 19
INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Kylie Hammel 10. Kendal Van Minsel 6, Siri Konkel 2, Addison Halverson 2, Elle Berns 2, Katie Klug 2, Carlie Halverson 2, Cierra Blaskowski 2
B-TEAM: SG 35, St. Charles 27
SG 19 + 16 = 35
StC 15 + 12 = 27
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 14, StC 8
2-pt FG: SG 12, StC 7
3-pt FG: SG 2, StC 1
Free throws: SG 5 for 9 (56%), StC 10-14 (71%); Fouls: SG 13, StC 15
INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Kylie Hammel 17, Kendal Van Minsel 6, Elle Berns 6, Sydney Holland 3, Addison Halverson 2, Katie Klug 1
Spring Grove Girls Basketball 2021-’22 (approximate 7:15 tipoff unless noted) *conference game
3 wins, 5 losses (3-1 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
Tues. 12/21 at Lanesboro*
>>>Rushford-Peterson Tournament
>>>Tues. 12/28 at Rushford-Peterson, 5 pm
>>>Wed. 12/29 vs. Randolph or Dover-Eyota (at Rushford, time TBD)
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)
Spring Grove B-team Girls (3-3)
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
Spring Grove 8th Grade Girls (0-1)
L vs. Lansing Kee 18-46
Spring Grove 7th Grade Girls (0-1)
L vs. Lansing Kee 22-31