Solum sinks 30 as Spring Grove secures season opener

Elijah Solum matched a career high with 30 points as the Spring Grove boys opened the 2023 basketball season with a 71-52 road win at Lanesboro on Dec. 19. Fast breaks and free throws were critical in the critical contest between rivals who finished as the top two teams in the SEC East Division last winter. It was the Lions’ 17th consecutive conference victory and their 19th straight win in a series they lead by 19 games, (66-47 since 1949).

The Burros, despite nailing five of their first six 3-point attempts, still trailed 16-15. The Lions extended their lead to a dozen (29-17), but Lanesboro was back within seven at halftime (39-32) and took the lead, 41-39, with a 9-point run to start the second half. Spring Grove retaliated by scoring 20 of the next 23 points. A 9-point spurt made it a 22-point spread (68-46).

Solum (12 for 17 shooting, 30 points) was one of four Lions scoring in double figures with Tysen Grinde adding 12 points along with 10 points each from Jacob Olerud and Jaxon Strinmoen (5 for 9 shooting). Grinde pulled down a game-high 8 rebounds while Solum and Strinmoen each collected 7 caroms. Grinde passed out 4 assists with 3 helpers each from Ethan Crouch and Caleb Griffin.

One of last year’s starters, senior Hunter Holland is on the injured list as is senior Logan Brumm. The Lion starting lineup consisted of three returning regulars Grinde (senior), Solum (junior) and Strinmoen (junior) along with juniors Jacob Olerud and Ethan Crouch.

For Lanesboro (2-2, 1-2 SEC), Mason Howard hit 5 treys for 15 points while Parker Storhoff put in 13 points. Three-time All-SEC point guard John Prestemon excelled with 11 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds. The Burros eventually did cool off. After hitting 7 of their first 13 triples, they missed their final seven attempts from downtown. After scoring 32 points in the first half, LHS managed only 20 points after intermission

Each team had 52 official shot attempts, each with 20 shots beyond the 3-point arc and 32 shots closer in. But buoyed by 22 fast-break points, the Lions shot 53% from the field, compared to the Burros’ 35%. From 3-point land, Spring Grove sank only 5 of 20, but the Lions made more free throws (10 for 18) than the Burros attempted (1 for 5).

The Spring Grove B-team won convincingly, 45-20, as did the Lion eighth graders, 48-24. Lanesboro took the seventh grade game, 28-23.

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SG 71, Lanesboro 52

SCORE by HALVES

SG   39+32=71

LHS 32+20=52

TEAM TOTALS:

all FG: SG 53% (28-52), LHS 42% (22-52)

2-pt FG: SG 72% (23-32), LHS 47% (15-32)

3-pt FG: SG 25% (5-20), LHS 35% (7-20)

Free throws: SG 56% (10-18), LHS 20% (1-5)

Rebounds: SG 29, LHS 26; Turnovers: 13, LHS 15; 2nd Chance pts: SG 10, LHS 11; Fast break pts: SG 22, LHS 6; Pts. in paint: SG 49, LHS 25; Greatest lead: SG 22, LHS 4; Fouls: SG 10, LHS 12

SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Caleb Griffin 2P, 2R, 3A, 3S; Isaac Nerstad 5P; *Tysen Grinde 12P, 8R, 4A, 1S, 2B; Hunter Holland out injured; *Ethan Crouch 2P, 4R, 3A, 2S, 2B; Logan Brumm out injured; *Jacob Olerud 10P, 1R, 1A, 3S; Dane Edgington no stats; *Jaxon Strinmoen 10P, 7R, 1A, 3S, 1B; *Elijah Solum 30P, 7R, 1A, 4S

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Spring Grove Boys BB 2023

* SEC game, Home games in bold

1 win, 0 losses (1-0 SEC)

W at Lanesboro* 71-52

Tues. 12-20        at Glenville-Emmons*

Tues. 12-27        Dawson-Boyd (Wisc.) (at R-P, 4 p.m.)

Wed. 12-28        Higher Ground (at R-P, 5 p.m.)

Tues. 01-03        Lyle/Pacelli*

Thur. 01-05        at Southland*

Sat. 01-07          Breakdown Classic at Byron

Mankato Loyola, 2 p.m.

Tues. 01-10        Grand Meadow

Fri. 01-13           at Mabel-Canton*

Mon. 01-16        at Schaeffer Academy*

Tues. 01-17        Houston*

Thur. 01-19       Lanesboro*

Mon. 01-23        at Kingsland*

Tues. 01-24        La Crescent-Hokah

Thu. 01-26         Schaeffer Academy*

Tues. 01-31        at LeRoy-Ostrander*

Thur. 02-02       Glenville-Emmons*

Fri. 02-03           at Lyle/Pacelli*(Lyle)

Mon. 02-06        Fillmore Central

Thur. 02-09       Southland*

Sat. 02-11          Rushford-Peterson 5:45 pm

Mon. 02-13        Kingsland*

Tues. 02-14        LeRoy-Ostrander

Fri. 02-17           at Grand Meadow*

Mon. 02-20        Mabel-Canton*

Fri. 02-24           at Houston*

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Spring Grove B-team

1 win, 0 losses (1-0 SEC)

W at Lanesboro 45-20

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Spring Grove 8th Grade

1 win, 0 losses

W at Lanesboro 48-24

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Spring Grove 7th Grade

0 wins, 1 loss

W at Lanesboro 48-24