The outcome was decided during the first few minutes of the Spring Grove boys’ early-week 86-35 walloping of winless Houston (Jan. 25), but the gut-wrenching, late-week 52-47 loss at Randolph went down to the final half-minute (Jan. 28). The Lion lads lost a 16-point lead while suffering their first setback of the season, while the Rockets remained very much alive in the SEC East Division race. The week ended with Spring Grove (4-1, 4-1 SEC), Randolph (3-2, 3-1 SEC) and Lanesboro (2-2, 2-1 SEC) in a three-team logjam – each with one league loss.
It was a very-similar fate for the B-team boys (3-1) who hammered the Hurricanes 53-12 before suffering their first loss while falling at undefeated Randolph, 47-44, in overtime.
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Spring Grove 86, at Houston 35
Caden Grinde retired for the night with more than 12 minutes still to play after scoring 31 points. At that point, Houston had scored only 20. The Hurricanes would finish with 35, their fourth loss in four games and their third by at least 50-point margins. Spring Grove is a young team, but Houston is even younger. Half (5) of the 10 ‘Canes who saw action were eighth graders, including two starters.
It was the Lions’ 57th win in the last 59 games versus Houston, but the two programs split a pair of overtime games last winter. With the graduation-depleted Hurricanes rebuilding for what could be a promising future, this season was a physical and experience mismatch.
Grinde did more than score while passing out 5 assists and lifting 5 steals. Sophomore Hunter Holland and freshmen Jaxon Strinmoen and Elijah Solum each scored 10 points. Solum also distributed 6 assists with no turnovers and had 3 steals.
Big on the backboards, sophomore Tysen Grinde (7 points) rebounded a game-high 7 times while junior Carson Gerard (8 points) collected 6 boards.
On offense, six different Lions had more assists than turnovers. On defense, 23 Spring Grove steals contributed to 28 Houston turnovers .and resulted in 22 fast-break points
The Lions were charged with only four fouls, the fewest in two years. In the 21 seasons for which statistics are available, no Lion boys have been whistled for fewer than four fouls.
It was half-a-hundred plus four by halftime (54-20), and then Spring Grove scored the first 15 points of the second half. The Lions shot a so-so 25% from 3-point land (5 for 20), but they scored 71 points in the lane while hitting 74% (34 for 46) of their 2-point shots.
Houston shot a respectable 40% from the field but attempted only 38 shots, while the Lions put 39 shots into the net. Senior Noah Kingsley led Hurricane scoring with 14 points.
VARSITY: SG 86, Houston 35
SG 54+32=86
Hou 20+15=35
all FG: SG 59% (39-66), Hou 40% (14-35)
2-pt. FG: SG 74% (34-46), Hou 52% (12-23)
3-pt. FG: SG 25% (5-20), Hou 17% (2-12)
Free throws: SG 43% (3-7), Hou 83% (5-6); Rebounds: SG 26, Hou 16; Turnovers: SG 8, Hou 28; 2nd Chance points: SG 19, Hou 2; Fast break points: SG 28, Hou 2; Points in paint: SG 71, Hou 25; Greatest lead: SG 52, Hou 0; Fouls: SG 4, Hou 7
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Caleb Griffin x5P, 3R, 2A, 3S; Jonah Udstuen no stats; Isaac Nerstad 3P; *Caden Grinde 31P, 1R, 5A, 5S; *Tysen Grinde 7P, 7R, 3A, 3S, 1B; *Hunter Holland 10P, 3R, 2A, 3S; Josh Newgaard 2P, 1R; Tristan Hammel 1S; Logan Brumm 1A, 1B; Jacob Olerud 1A; Isaac Gengler no stats; *Carson Gerard8P, 6R, 1A, 2S; Ethan Crouch 2R, 1A; Jaxon Strinmoen 10P, 3R, 3S, 1B; *Elijah Solum 10P, 6A, 3S, 1B
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at Randolph 52, Spring Grove 47
The Lions hit 9 of their first 10 shots, including a trio of 3-pointers, while roaring out to a 23-12 lead. Their greatest advantage was 16 points just before taking a 13-point lead (34-21) into the halftime locker room.
After Caden Grinde hit the first two Spring Grove shots in the second half, (SG led 38-23), Rocket coach Kent Otte went to a defense that double-teamed Grinde. The Lion senior had scored 15 points through the first 21 minutes. Before launching a last-second buzzer-beater, he was limited to only one more shot and no more points during the final 15 minutes.
Following hot 56% shooting and 34 points in the first half, the Lions shot only 29% and added only a paltry 13 points after halftime. Spring Grove ball-handling also took a nose dive during the second half with 11 of 13 turnovers coming after intermission. Grove shot 45% overall, while the Rockets hit half of their 2-point shots (12 for 24) and half of their 3-point attempts (8 of 16).
Randolph took its first lead (44-43) with 6:24 to play, but Spring Grove was not finished. There were five lead changes in four minutes before the home team shut out Spring Grove during the final two minutes. Down by one point, the Lions missed two free throws and suffered through four straight turnovers.
Steals by Holland and Caden Grinde had kept it close; it was still a one-possession margin (50-47) before two Rockets free throws created the final 52-47 score (Randolph’s greatest lead) with 34 seconds remaining.
Rocket senior Devon Schultz led all scorers with 16 points, while Grinde (7-for11 shooting) finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Despite sitting out about a fourth of the game in foul trouble, Carson Gerard still had 13 points and 7 rebounds.
Spring Grove was on the verge of handing Randolph a damaging second league loss, but the Rockets countered with a game-changing defensive adjustment. The Lions host the rematch on Feb. 8
VARSITY: SG 47, Randolph 47
SG 34+13=47
Ran 21+31=52
all FG: SG 45% (19-42), Ran 50% (20-40);
2-pt. FG: SG 56% (14-25), Ran 50% (12-24);
3-pt. FG: SG 29% (5-17), Ran 50% (8-16);
Free throws: SG 50% (4-8), Ran 29% (2-7); Rebounds: SG 19, Ran 23; Turnovers: SG 13, Ran 17; 2nd Chance points: SG 6, Ran 14; Fast break points: SG 4, Ran 4; Points in paint: SG 22, Ran 24; Greatest lead: SG 16, Ran 5; Fouls: SG 13, Ran 11
SG INDIVIDUALS: Caleb Griffin no stats; *Caden Grinde 15P, 4R, 4A, 4S; *Tysen Grinde 5P, 4R, 1A, 2S, 1B; *Hunter Holland 4P, 1R, 2A, 2S; *Carson Gerard 13P, 7R; Jaxon Strinmoen 2P, 1R; *Elijah Solum 8P, 2R, 4A, 1B
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B-team: Spring Grove 53, at Houston 12
Jacob Olerud passed out 4 assists with no turnovers, one of seven Lions with more assists than turnovers. Isaac Nerstad hit 5 of 7 shots on the way to a game-high13 points. Ethan Crouch put in 6 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Nine of the 10 Lions scored, and nine had steals while eight were credited with assists.
An almost all-eighth grade Houston lineup was left behind quickly as Spring Grove (3-0) led 32-4 at halftime. The Hurricanes attempted only 25 shots while suffering through 25 turnovers.
SG 32+21=53
Hou 4 + 8=12
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 42% (21-50), Hou 25% (6-24)
2-pt. FG: SG 44% (14-32), Hou 26% (6-23)
3-pt. FG: SG 39% (7-18), Hou 0% (0-1)
Free throws: SG 36% (4-11), Hou 0% (0-3); Rebounds: SG 27, Hou 14; Turnovers: SG 8, Hou 25; Greatest lead: SG 41, Hou 0; Fouls: SG 6, Hou 7
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin6P, 3R%, 3A, 3S; Jonah Udstuen 1R, 2A, 1S; Isaac Nerstad 13P, 2A, 1S, 1B; Josh Newgaard 4P, 3R, 2A, 1S, 2B; Tristan Hammel 2P,3R, 1S; *Logan Brumm 2P, 6R, 2A, 2S, 2B; *Jacob Olerud 8P, 1R, 4A, 1S; Isaac Gengler 6P, 1R; *Ethan Crouch 6P, 8R, 1A, 2S, 1B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 6P, 1R, 2A, 3S, 2B
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B-team: Spring Grove 44, at Randolph 47 (overtime)
After the Lions had netted only 3 of 7 free throws in the final 27 seconds of regulation time, Randolph hit two pressure-packed free throws with only five seconds remaining to send two undefeated teams into overtime.
In that extra period, Jacob Olerud nailed a 3-pointer to give Grove a quick 44-41 lead. But that would be the Lions’ last shot before turnovers ended their final two possessions. Again free throws were critical with Randolph going 4 for 4 at the line while scoring six points in overtime. The Rockets sank 12 of 15 free throws (80%) and Spring Grove 11 of 19 (58%).
As in the varsity game, Randolph defense delivered. Sudden full-court pressure led to four straight Spring Grove turnovers before the Lions faltered at the free throw line during the final two minutes of regulation.
It was close all the way, with nine lead changes. Both teams closed with 12 assists and 14 turnovers. The B-Lions shot better from 3-point land (37%, 7 for 19) than they did closer in (27%). Overall, they went 32% from the field and Randolph 31%.
Olerud scored a game-high 16 points while Ethan Crouch added 15 points and 7 rebounds while blocking 3 shots. The B-Lions (3-1) lost for the first time, while Randolph remained undefeated at 4-0.
B-TEAM: SG 44, Randolph 47 (OT)
- 23+18+3=44
Ran 20+21+6=47
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 32% (13-41), Ran 31% (15-48)
2-pt. FG: SG 27% (6-22), Ran 33% (10-30)
3-pt. FG: SG 37% (7-19), Ran 28% (5-18)
Free throws: SG 58% (11-19), Ran 80% (12-15); Rebounds: SG 23m, Ran 34; Turnovers: SG 14, Ran 14
2nd Chance points: SG
Fast break points: SG
Points in paint: SG
Greatest lead: SG 7, Ran 4
Fouls: SG 13, Ran 18
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS:
*Caleb Griffin 6P, 1R, 1A, 1S; Jonah Udstuen 2A, 1S; Isaac Nerstad 3R, 3R, 2A, 3S; Josh Newgaard 2R,; *Logan Brumm 2P, 3R, 1A; *Jacob Olerud 16P, 2R, 3A, 3S; Isaac Gengler no stats; *Ethan Crouch 15P, 7R, 1A, 1S, 3B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 2P, 5R, 2A, 1S
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>>SEC EAST DIVISION
Spring Grove 4-1 SEC, 4-1 season
Randolph 3-1 SEC, 3-2 season
Lanesboro 2-1 SEC, 2-2 season
Mabel-Canton 2-3 SEC, 2-3 season
Schaeffer Academy 2-3 SEC, 2-3 season
Houston 0-4 SEC, 0-4 season
>>SEC WEST DIVISION
Southland 5-0 SEC, 5-0 season
Lyle/Pacelli 3-1 SEC, 3-1 season
Grand Meadow 2-2 SEC, 3-2 season
LeRoy-Ostrander 1-3 SEC, 1-3 season
Kingsland 1-3 SEC, 1-4 season
Glenville-Emmons 0-3 SEC, 0-3 season
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Varsity Boys Basketball 2021 (approximately 7:15 unless noted)
>>4-1 season, 4-1 SEC
W at Grand Meadow 45-41
W vs Mabel-Canton 57-31
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 67-28
W at Houston 86-35
L at Randolph 47-52
02/01 at Schaeffer Academy
02/04 Houston
02/08 Randolph
02/11 at Mabel-Canton
02/16 at Lanesboro
02/19 Lanesboro
02/23 at Glenville-Emmons
02/26 LeRoy-Ostrander
03/02 at Lyle/Pacelli
03/05 Southland
03/12 Kingsland
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B-team Boys Basketball 2021
>>3 wins, 1 loss
W at Grand Meadow 56-30
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 38-22
W at Houston 53-12
L at Randolph 44-47 (OT)
02/01 at Schaeffer Academy
02/04 Houston
02/08 Randolph
02/11 at Mabel-Canton
02/16 at Lanesboro
02/19 Lanesboro
02/23 at Glenville-Emmons
02/26 LeRoy-Ostrander
03/02 at Lyle/Pacelli
03/05 Southland
03/12 Kingsland
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8th Grade Boys Basketball 2021
>>2 wins, 0 losses
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 29-13
W at Houston 35-15
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7th Grade Boys Basketball 2021
0 wins, 1 loss
L at Houston 24-34