Girls basketball teams Kingsland and Houston had a converging final week of the regular season. The Hurricanes (9-2, 13-9) entered atop the SEC-East, Knights (7-3, 12-9) in second, Houston two league games left, Kingsland three (including a head-to-head). Two seniors each set their school’s basketball all-time scoring marks.
On Monday, Houston hosted La Crescent. Hurricane all-time girls scorer Alyssa Rostad needed 13 points to surpass Andy Sires (1,673) as the school’s all-time leading scorer. She did so with a triple-double (28 points, 3-6 threes, 11-13 FTs, 10 rebs, 4 asts, 10 stls). The three-point and free throw efficiency weren’t new. For the season, the strong 5’4” guard shot 43% from deep (63-145) and 81% (117-144) at the line (19.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 3.2 SPG). She’s posted double digit free throw makes five times and three-plus made threes 12 times. Dale Moga’s group also got their seventh straight win, beating the Lancers 51-34. Emma Geiwitz added 13 points.
Meanwhile, Steve Hauser’s relatively young Knights (12-9) had a stiff task if they wanted to share the SEC-East title. They needed to beat three average-or-better SEC teams in four days. A long trip to Randolph (13-9), and a 44-39 win, started the gauntlet. Lauren Buchholtz (19 pts, 15 rebs) was the only Knight in double figures. Kingsland (13-9) then hosted Houston (14-9) in the team’s third meeting, the rubber match. A ‘Cane win meant a second straight East title for the ‘Canes. A Knight win meant a tied race, each team with a game left. An up-tempo first half had nine ties. Houston led 27-22, but Alyssa Rostad critically picked up her third foul. With her out, Kingsland ended the stanza on a 20-6 run. Due to a stole-points full-court-in-five-seconds-bucket by Ellie Buchholtz, the Knights went to half up 42-33. Kingsland had 17 turnovers (including 11 in 14 possessions, albeit just one in their 20-6 spurt). Rostad then picked up her fourth foul (charge) early in the second. Down its only senior and best half-court weapon, it was a big blow to the ‘Canes. Kingsland led by double-digits most of the second half to prevail 76-61. Ellie B., who spearheaded the holiday OT win over Houston (career-high 32 points), had another big game (28 pts, 6-11 threes, 6 rebs, 4 stls). Sister Lauren B. neared a triple-double (20 pts, 6-9 FTs, 17 rebs, 8 asts). Off the bench, sophomore Sam Wernimont added 14 points (4-4 FTs). Geiwitz (27 pts, 3-7 threes, 5 rebs, 5 stls) and A-Rostad (18 pts, 3-8 threes, 6 rebs, 4 asts) led the ‘Canes. Jenny Albrecht did ancillary work (2 pts, 8 rebs, 5 asts, 7 stls). Finally, on senior night, Kingsland (14-9) hosted SG (10-10). The Knights started the game 21-3 and 30-6. Nine got in the scoring column in the first 11 minutes. At halftime, the only drama was, could Lauren B. score 13 points to surpass Josh Hagen (1,512) as Kingsland’s all-time leading scorer? On a drive and patented up-and-under lay-up, Buchholtz cemented her name (again) in the books. Kingsland grabbed a share of the SEC-East title via an 80-42 win. Lauren B. (25 pts, 14 rebs, 8 asts) and Ellie B. (21 pts, 7 rebs, 9 asts) led the way, but it was a ten-girls-score, team-effort, that included seniors Nora Jahn, Megan Schultz, and Victoria Hershberger, plus under-classman Shelby Beck, Wernimont, Audrey Webster, Emily Miner, Merredith Farlinger, and Anika Reiland. Kingsland claims its first girls basketball conference (division) title since sharing the TRC with Caledonia in 2007-2008. The Knights (6-seed, 10-3, 15-9) will host SG (11-seed, 10-11) in the 1A Round of 16.
At the same time, Houston subdued M-C. The ‘Canes led 23-22 at halftime, pulling away for the 56-39 win. A-Rostad (18 pts, 7 rebs), Becca Rostad (12 pts, 5 rebs), and Sydney Torgerson (12 pts, 5-7 FGs, 5 rebs) led the way. It was Rostad’s 24th straight double-digit scoring game. Albrecht added 7 (pts) and 14 (rebs). M-C was led by Kenidi McCabe (10 pts, 5 rebs), Payton Danielson (9 pts, 7 rebs, 7 asts, 5 stls), and Lauren Wyffels (9 pts, 6 rebs). Houston grabs its share of the SEC-East, their second title in as many years, second title ever. The ‘Canes (7-seed, 10-3, 15-10) will host A-C/G-E (10-seed, 13-8) in the 1A Round of 16. M-C (14-seed, 4-8, 7-18) has a play-in game with Faribault B.A. (19-seed, 1-22).