The Class A Spring Grove boys upended previously undefeated Class AA La Crescent-Hokah, but the Lions were not able to derail unbeaten Martin County West, which was ranked #1 by the computer and #4 by the press in Class A. The Tuesday 56-41 win versus the Lancers and the 41-33 Friday loss to the Mavericks came between a 72-24 Monday rout of winless Houston and Saturday’s 53-23 runaway win at Madelia. The Lions were on the road all week. Defense continued to be the calling card for SG, which held LCH, MCW and Madelia to their lowest scores of the season – the Lancers 24 points below their scoring average. In two games versus Houston, the Lions limited Houston to its two lowest scores of the season. However, the Lions’ 41 points at MCW were their fewest points of the year. Houston ball-handlers succumbed against SG’s suffocating defense, which with 34 steals, forced 39 turnovers. Those thefts led to all 32 Lion fast-break points. It was 54-20 at halftime, and Houston added only four more points. Thirteen Lions played, 10 scored, 10 rebounded, and nine were credited with steals. Sophomore Jaxon Strinmoen had career highs (20 pts, 6 stls). Hunter Holland lifted a career-best 8 steals. Tysen Grinde (16 pts, 5 stls, 4 rebs, 4 asts) was a major factor as was sophomore Elijah Solum (11 pts, 4 rebs, 3 stls). Connor Porter (6 pts, 8 rebs) led Houston (0-6, 0-12). At LC/H (8-1), it was a 16-6 Lion start and 36-14 at the break. But the second half followed a different script. SG came in after four straight seven-turnover games and lost possessions only three times while dominating the first half at LCH. But the Lancers changed defenses and forced 20 Lion turnovers in the second half. It had been 14 years since SG had that many turnovers in a half. LCH chopped a 22-point deficit down to 10 with five to play. But the Lancers hit only one of their final 13 shots. SG, with only four second-half baskets, scored its final 10 points at the foul line and prevailed 56-41. Both teams shot 70% from the foul line; SG 19 of 27, LCH 7 for 10. Solum (20 pts, 8-9 FG, 4-4 FT) displayed exceptional shooting. Grinde scored a game-high (22 pts, 8 rebs, 7 stls). Carter Todd (11 pts) led LCH. It was SG’s seventh straight win. At Martin Co. West (14-0), there were five ties and four lead changes; the final eight-point spread was the closest anyone had come to the Mavericks, who own four wins against AA competition. SG rallied to edge ahead 21-18 at halftime and led 26-22 in the second half, but would add only seven more points (2 FG, 2 FT) during the final 11:30. The Mavs shot 41%, while the Lions shot a season-low 26%. Grinde (15 pts, 7 rebs, 6 stls) was the only Lion in double figures. In the 30-point romp at Madelia (3-4), the teams combined to miss the first 19 shots of the game. Two free throws broke the ice after six minutes of play. It was ten minutes before the first field goal. The Lions, who had missed their first 11 shots from the field, then drilled six shots in a row, including three treys. It was 23-6 at halftime. Averaging 61 points, the Blackhawks finished with 23. Averaging 53 points, SG netted 53. The Lions shot threes with 41% success (7 for 17), their second-best percentage of the season. Despite Madelia’s 6’8” and 6’7” centers, the Lions controlled the glass, 29 to 16. Carson Gerard posted a double-double (14 pts, 10 rebs). Strinmoen (12 pts, 7 rebs) and Solum (7 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts) helped. The Lions (7-0, 12-3) lead the SEC-East.
SG Boys Split with Two Unbeatens in Four-Game Week
