Photo by Paul Trende
The 50-35 win on Jan. 10 versus Kingsland was a non-conference game against a conference rival and a seventh straight triumph against the Knights. The next night, it was tight until the finish. The 44-40 decision was the 45th straight win against Grand Meadow.
The Lions shot below their 40% season average (31% and 38%), but they shot more often due to an advantage in offensive rebounds and especially because of exemplary ball-handling – only seven turnovers for a third straight game. And the boys in black allowed the visitors a combined nine free throws through 72 minutes of play.
Spring Grove was not at full strength with junior guard Hunter Holland home with illness. Classmate Caleb Griffin stepped into the starting lineup. Due to snow, Friday’s non-conference encounter at Fillmore Central was postponed until Feb. 25.
Spring Grove improved to 9-2 (6-0 SEC), while Kingsland left at 4-5 (3-2 SEC) and Grand Meadow slipped to 5-7 (2-4 SEC). The conference game with the Knights is scheduled for Jan. 25 at Spring Valley.
The Lion B-team (6-3) scored the first 14 points in the game versus Kingsland and went on to win, 32-19. They led Grand Meadow 14-2 and would eventually prevail, 49-15. Sophomore point guard Isaac Nerstad led Lion scoring in both games with 17 points against the Knights and 15 versus the Superlarks. There were no eighth grade games, but the undefeated Lion seventh graders (7-0) rolled past both Kingsland and Grand Meadow by double-digit margins.
SG 50, Kingsland 35
The Lions led only 31-30 with eight minutes remaining, but the Knights did not score again until the final half minute. Meanwhile, the Lions were scoring on 11 of 12 possessions, adding 19 unanswered points for a 50-30 lead.
The Knights had scored the game’s first six points and led for the first 11 minutes. It was a frustrating first half for both offenses. After three lead changes, the Lions led 16-15 at halftime. There would two more lead changes before an Elijah Solum 3-point basket broke a 25-25 tie; Grove then led for the final nine and half minutes of the 18-minute second stanza.
Four of the seven Lions’ turnovers came at the outset while falling behind 6-0. Spanning halftime, they lost possession only once through their last 30 possessions.
The Grove guys shot a chilly 24% through the first three-fourths of the game, but down the stretch, the Lions hit 6 of 10 shots (60%) from the field and 7 of 10 free throws. Kingsland shot only 30% in the first half and only 31% after intermission from the field. The Knights struggled to take the ball inside, scoring most of their points from afar. They went 7 for 23 (30%) from both 2-point range and from 3-point land.
The Knights missed all three free throws, the fewest charity shots allowed by the Lions this season. Spring Grove (11 for 20) outscored the visitors by 11 points from the foul line with only a four-point advantage from the field.
Two sophomores were the only double-digit scorers. Solum scored a game-high 16 points, collected 7 rebounds and had twice as many assists (4) as turnovers. Jayden Brink led Kingsland with 12 points. For SG, Carson Gerrard, Jaxon Strinmoen and Tysen Grinde each added 8 points. With 9 rebounds from Gerard and 8 boards from Strinmoen, the Lions won the rebound battle, 35 to 29.
——
SG 44, Grand Meadow 40
The last of nine lead changes came during an 11-to-2 Lion run with Solum’s driving basket with six minutes to play. Spring Grove would quickly lead by six (42-36), but the Superlarks were back within two (42-40) with 1:16 to play. Solum secured the win by sinking a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining.
In the first half, Grand Meadow had led by eight points before a steal and fast-break basket by Grinde (assist from Caleb Griffin) got the Lions back within six at halftime.
Although GM outshot SG from the field, 50% to 38%, but both teams hit 17 baskets. But the Lions had two more 3-pointers for a two-point advantage from the field, and they hit all six free throws for a two-point advantage from the foul line.
Grinde with 20 points and Solum with 16 for the second straight night, accounted for 36 of the team’s 44 points. Grinde had three team-high totals, including 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Spring Grove played with seven players, Grand Meadow only six. Senior center Roman Warmka led the Larks with 12 points, and junior guard Jace Kraft tallied 12. Senior guard Taylor Glynn had game highs with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
The Lion B-team scored the game’s first 14 points while dominating the Superlarks, 49-15. Nerstad scored 15 points and Jacob Olerud 11. A dozen Lions were credited with rebounds, led by Ethan Crouch with 5 caroms.
VARSITY vs. KINGSLAND:
SCORE by HALVES
SG 16+34=50
KHS 15+20=35
all FG: SG 31% (17-55), KHS 390% (14-46)
2-pt FG: SG 35% (12-34), KHS 30% (7-23)
3-pt FG: SG 24% (5-21), KHS 30% (7-23)
Free throws: SG 55% (11-20), KHS 0% (0-0); Rebounds: SG 35 KHS 29, ; Turnovers: SG 7, KHS 17; 2nd Chance points: SG 16, KHS 8; Fast break points: SG 5, KHS 7; Points in paint: SG 32, KHS 12; Greatest lead: SG 20, KHS 6; Fouls: SG 7, KHS 13
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Caleb Griffin 4P, 3R, 1A, 1S; Isaac Nerstad no stats; *Tysen Grinde 8P, 5R, 6A, 1S, 1B; Hunter Holland out illness; Ethan Crouch no stats; Logan Brumm 1R; Jacob Olerud 6P, 2R, 1S; *Carson Gerard 8P, 9R, 1A, 3S, 3B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 8P, 3S; *Elijah Solum 16P, 7R, 4A, 2B
—————————–
VARSITY vs. GRAND MEADOW:
SCORE by HALVES
SG 16+22=44
GM 22+18=40
all FG: SG 38% (17-45), GM 50% (17-34)
2-pt FG: SG 43% (13-30), GM 65% (15-23)
3-pt FG: SG 27% (4-15), GM 18% (2-11)
Free throws: SG 100% (6-6), GM 67% (4-6); Rebounds: SG 18, GM 21; Turnovers: SG 7, GM 16; 2nd Chance points: SG 7, GM 7; Fast break points: SG 6, GM 2; Points in paint: SG 28, GM 22; Greatest lead: SG 6, GM 8; Fouls: SG 9, GM 12
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin 1R, 1A, 1S; *Tysen Grinde 20P, 5R, 2A, 4S; Hunter Holland out illness; Logan Brumm 2P, 2S; Jacob Olerud 2R, 1A, 1S; *Carson Gerard 4P, 3R, 2A, 2S, 3B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 2P, 4R, 3A, 2S; *Elijah Solum 16P, 3R, 1A, 2S
————————————
B-TEAM vs. KINGSLAND
SG 16+16=32
KHS 4+15=19
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 28% (11-39), KHS 25% (8-32)
2-pt FG: SG 25% (5-20), KHS 25% (7-28)
3-pt FG: SG 30% (6-19), KHS 25% (1-4)
Free throws: SG 57% (4-7), KHS 25% (2-8); Rebounds: SG 24, KHS 28; Greatest lead: SG 15, KHS 2; Fouls: SG 8, KHS 11
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Caleb Eiken 2A; *Nathan Crouch 7P, 5R, 2A, 1S; Kohl Betcher no stats; *Isaac Nerstad 17P, 1R, 3S; *Ethan Crouch 3R, 1A, 1S, 2B; Ben Udstuen 2R, 1B; Troy Reinhardt 1A; Josh Newgaard 1R, 1A, 1B; Zach Brumm 1A; *Jacob Olerud 3P, 4R, 1A, 1S; *Bryce Berns 5P, 4R, 1S; Ezra Griffin 1R; Gavin Ostern 2R, 1S; Shawn Crouch 1R, 1A, 1B
————————-
B-TEAM vs GRAND MEADOW
SG 27+22=49
GM 6 + 9 =15
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 35% (19-54), GM 27% (7-26 )
2-pt FG: SG 39% (12-31), GM 35% (6-17)
3-pt FG: SG 30% (7-23), GM 11% (1-9)
Free throws: SG 57% (4-7), GM 0% (0-0); Rebounds: SG 26, GM 20; Turnovers: SG 11, GM 32; Greatest lead: SG 34, GM 0; Fouls: SG 8, GM 9
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Caleb Eiken 3R, 2A, 1B; *Nathan Crouch 2P, 1R, 1A, 4S; Kohl Betcher 2P; *Isaac Nerstad 15P, 1S; *Ethan Crouch 5R, 4A, 2S; Ben Udstuen 2P, 1R; Troy Reinhardt 3R, 2S; Josh Newgaard 3P, 2R, 1BZach Brumm 2R, 2A, 3S; *Jacob Olerud 11P, 2R, 1S; *Bryce Berns 7P, 2R, 1A, 1S; Ezra Griffin 2P, 1R; Gavin Ostern 3P, 1R, 2A; Shawn Crouch 2P, 3R, 1A, 3S
————————————————–
SEC Boys BB
EAST DIVISION
Spring Grove 6-0 SEC (9-2 season)
Mabel-Canton 2-4 SEC (5-6 season)
Lanesboro 2-4 SEC (4-5 season)
Schaeffer Aca. 2-4 SEC (3-9 season
Houston 0-5 SEC (0-11 season)
WEST DIVISION
Lyle/Pacelli 5-0 SEC (9-2 season)
Southland 6-1 SEC (6-2 season)
LeRoy-Ostrander 4-2 SEC (7-3 season)
Kingsland 3-3 SEC (4-6 season)
Grand Meadow 2-4 SEC (5-7 season)
Glenville-Emmons 0-5 SEC (0-8 season)
——————————————-
Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2021-’22 (*conference game)
9-2 (6-0 SEC)
W vs. New Hampton, Iowa 45-41
W vs. Houston* 71-22
Fri. 12/10 vs. Lyle/Pacelli* postponed to Feb. 18
L at North Linn, Iowa 36-69
W at Southland*59-37
W vs. Lanesboro* 70-34
>>>Rushford-Peterson Christmas Invite
L at Rushford-Peterson 41-53
W vs. Dover-Eyota 44-33
W at Mabel-Canton* 67-32
W at Schaeffer Academy*58-14
W vs. Kingsland (non-conference) 50-35
W vs. Grand Meadow* 44-40
Fri. 01/14 at Fillmore Central (Preston) ppd. to 2-25-22
Mon. 01/17 at Houston*
Tues. 01/18 at La Crescent-Hokah 7 pm
Fri. 01/21 at Martin County West (Sherburn) 7 pm
Sat. 01/22 at Madelia 1 pm
Tues. 01/25 at Kingsland*
Thur. 01.27 Waukon
Fri. 01/28 Mabel-Canton*
Thur. 02/03 Glenville-Emmons*
Fri. 02/04 at Lanesboro*
Mon. 02/07 Southland (non-conference)
Fri. 02/11 at LeRoy-Ostrander*
Mon. 02/14 St. Charles
Thur. 02/17 Schaeffer Academy*
Fri. 02/18 Lyle/Pacelli* postponed from Dec. 10
Fri. 02/25 at Fillmore Central (Preston) postponed from Jan. 14
———————————-
B-team Boys Basketball 6-3 (5-2 SEC)
W vs. Houston 45-14
L at Southland 34-51
W vs. Lanesboro 49-33
L at Rushford-Peterson 31-59
W vs. Dover-Eyota 44-33
W at Mabel-Canton 47-30
L at Schaeffer Academy 33-34 overtime
W vs. Kingsland 32-19
W vs. Grand Meadow 49-15
———————————–
8th Grade Boys Basketball (3-1)
W vs. Houston 27-23
W vs. Caledonia 30-20
L vs. Lanesboro 21-40
W at Mabel-Canton 54-41
———————————–
7th Grade Boys Basketball (7-0)
W vs. Houston 44-8
W vs. Caledonia 19-16
W vs. Lanesboro 39-16
W at Mabel-Canton 60-11
W at Schaefer Academy 43-2
W vs. Kingsland
W vs. Grand Meadow 44-11