Spring Grove boys cage Cougars quickly at section

The Spring Grove boys, with the No. 2 section seed, took quick control of the March 2 section clash with No. 15 Mabel-Canton. The 71-33 decision began with a 26-2 opening Spring Grove salvo on the way to a 45-21 halftime count.

Jaxon Strinmoen scored 16 points before halftime on the way to his 18-point, 10-rebound double along with 4 steals, 2 blocked shots and 5 assists with only a single turnover. Tysen Grinde shared scoring honors with 18 points to go with 6 steals, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. There were four Lions scoring in double figures with 10 points apiece from Ethan Crouch (5 for 6 shooting, 3 blocks, 2 assists) and Caleb Griffin (3 steals). Elijah Solum added 7 points and 6 boards plus a game-high 6 assists.

For Mabel-Canton, Tyler Larson had 13 points while Cayden Tollefsrud had 13 rebounds while scoring 8 points. Jordan Larson added another 8 points and 4 boards.

This third meeting of the season was much more similar to the Lions’ 85-36 win in Mid-January (with hot 55% shooting) than the 49-34 victory in late February when Grove shot a season-low 29%. At section, the Lion offense was again equal to the defense while shooting 50%, including a good 33% (8 for 24) from 3-point range. The 54% at the free line was less than desired, but the Lions hit seven charity shots (7 for 13) while the Cougars attempted only seven (3 for 7).

It was much the same for the Mabel-Canton attack, which scored only 33 points after 36 and 34 in the previous two meetings. The Cougars shot only 26% from the field against the aggressive Lion defense, which forced 25 turnovers. They had some success while scoring a third of their points (11 of 33) with fast breaks, but the Grove guys were better with 23 points in transition. Once again, Mabel-Canton attempted more 3-point shots (28) than 2-pointers (21). Six of their 2-point attempts were blocked. The Cougars’ lone statistical advantage came with 33 rebounds to 29 for Spring Grove.

The Cougars had won a section play-in game with their third win this season over No. 18 Grand Meadow, 66-48, before the third setback this year against Spring Grove ended their season with a 12-16 record. After this 28th straight win versus Mabel-Canton, the Lions lead the all-time series, 90 to 39. State-ranked No. 7 Spring Grove improved to 26-1 while advancing to the quarterfinal round for a second straight season.

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SG 71, MC 33
SCORE by HALVES
SG  47+24=71
MC 18+15=33
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 50% (28-56), MC 26% (12-46)
2-pt FG: SG 63% (20-32), MC 33% (6-18)
3-pt FG: SG 33% (8-24), MC 21% (6-28)
Free throws: SG 54% (7-13), MC 43% (3-7)
Rebounds: SG 29, MC 33; Turnovers: SG 7, MC 25; 2nd Chance pts: SG 8, MC 3; Fast break pts: SG 23, MC 11; Pts. in paint: SG 45, MC 15; Greatest lead: SG 38, MC 0; Fouls: SG 12, MC 10

SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin 10P, 1R, 1A, 3S; Ben Udstuen 1R; Nathan Crouch 2P; Isaac Nerstad no stats; Zach Brumm no stats; *Tysen Grinde 18P, 4R, 2A, 6S; Hunter Holland 2R, 3A, 1S; Josh Newgaard 1R; *Ethan Crouch 10P, 2R, 2A, 2S, 3B; Logan Brumm 1R; Jacob Olerud 6P, 1A; Bryce Berns 1R; Dane Edgington 1B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 18P, 10R, 5A, 4S, 2B; *Elijah Solum 7P, 6R, 6A, 2S

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Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2023
* SEC game, home games in bold,
26 wins, 1 loss (20-0 SEC)
W at Lanesboro* 71-52
W at Glenville-Emmons* 75-27
L vs. Dawson-Boyd 57-66
W vs. Higher Ground Academy 83-39
W at Southland* 57-33
W vs. Mankato Loyola 61-54
W at Grand Meadow 64-27
W at Mabel-Canton*85-36
W at Schaeffer Academy* 69-37
W vs. Houston*67-21
W vs. Lanesboro*60-46
W at Kingsland*72-37
W vs. La Crescent-Hokah 66-63
W vs. Schaeffer Academy*65-35
W vs. LeRoy-Ostrander* 81-27
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 93-24
W vs. Glenville-Emmons*72-31
W at Lyle/Pacelli*46-40
W vs. Fillmore Central 69-65
W vs Southland*47-42 OT
W vs. Rushford-Peterson 56-45
W vs. Kingsland*59-23
W vs. Grand Meadow*64-24
W vs. Mabel-Canton*49-34
W at Houston* 77-36
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli* 53-38
SECTION 1A TOURNAMENT – #2 seed
W vs. #15 Mabel-Canton 71-33

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Spring Grove B-team
17 wins, 5 losses
W at Lanesboro 45-20
W at Glenville-Emmons 53-31
W vs. Dawson-Boyd 34-30
W vs. Higher Ground Academy 52-13
L at Southland 35-47
W vs. Loyola 46-23
W at Mabel-Canton 45-9
Wat Schaeffer Academy 61-25
W vs. Houston 52-19
W vs. Lanesboro 35-24
L at Kingsland 41-44
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 30-31
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 49-25
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 54-18
W vs. Glenville-Emmons 57-36
W at Lyle/Pacelli 26-24
W vs. Fillmore Central 46-38
L vs. Southland 27-36
L vs. Rushford-Peterson 42-46
W vs. Kingsland 53-28
W vs. Mabel-Canton 55-28
W at Houston 51-14

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Spring Grove 8th Grade
12 wins, 8 losses
W at Lanesboro 48-24
L at Caledonia 29-37
L at Southland 41-55
W at Grand Meadow 48-14
W at Mabel-Canton 53-30
W at Schaeffer Academy 41-31
W vs. Houston 49-18
L vs. Kingsland 12-43
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 31-50
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 38-26
L vs. Fillmore Central 15-42
L vs. Southland 42-54
L vs. Caledonia 32-42
W vs. Rushford-Peterson 38-28
W vs. Lanesboro 44-22
L vs. Kingsland 29-41
W vs. Grand Meadow 49-13
W vs. Mabel-Canton 38-24
W at Lansing Kee
W at Houston

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Spring Grove 7th Grade
11 wins, 8 losses
L at Lanesboro 23-28
L a Caledonia 23-26
W at Southland 29-26
W at Mabel-Canton 36-32
W at Schaeffer Academy 31-15
W vs. Houston 38-21
W vs. Kingsland 25-20
L vs. La Crescent-Hokah 20-27
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 26-13
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 23-21
L vs. Fillmore Central 34-39
W vs. Southland 34-18
L vs. Caledonia 26-31
L vs. Rushford-Peterson 19-30
L vs. Lanesboro 28-40
W vs. Kingsland 32-25
L vs. Mabel-Canton 29-41
W at Lansing Kee
W at Houston