File photo by Lee Epps
The Spring Grove boys opened the 2023-2024 basketball season with a runaway 68-36 road win over Schaeffer Academy on Dec. 12. Those other Lions residing in Rochester, hit a pair of early 3-point field goals and two free throws to lead 8-4 before being engulfed and undone by an avalanche of turnovers. Spring Grove outscored Schaeffer by 17 points in the first half (32-15) and by 15 points in the second half.
Nine of the 12 Grove guys scored, including four in double figures, led by Jaxon Strinmoen with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and a blocked shot. Jacob Olerud added 12 points with 11 each from Ben Udstuen and Bryce Berns.
Wade Grinde’s Lions shot well enough from 3-point land (7-21, 33%) but held a 30-point scoring advantage in the lane in a 32-point decision. The hometown Schaeffer Lions (1-3, 0-2 SEC) shot reasonably well, but with 29 turnovers, did not shoot often enough to stay in contention.
Even though it was the first conference game for both teams, both came in already in first place at 0-0, since their other three East Division rivals already had a league loss. Grove has won the last seven games in the series it now leads 26 wins to 2.
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SG 68, Schaeffer 36
SCORE by HALVES
SG 32+36=68
SA 15+21=36
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 47% (28-59), SA 37% (13-35)
2-pt FG: SG 55% (21-38), SA 44% (8-18)
3-pt FG: SG 33% (7-21), SA 29% (5-17)
Free throws: SG 50% (5-10), SA 63% (5-8)
Rebounds: SG 24, SA 23
Turnovers: SG 18, SA 29
2nd Chance pts: SG 8, SA 10
Fast break pts: SG 10, SA 4
Pts. in paint: SG 43, SA 13
Greatest lead: SG 32, SA 4
Fouls: SG 12, SA 10
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter
Troy Reinhardt no stats
*Ben Udstuen 11P, 3R, 2A, 2S
Nathan Crouch 1R, 2S
*Isaac Nerstad 6P, 1R, 1A, 3S
Zach Brumm 4P, 4R, 2A, 3S, 1B
Kohl Betcher 2P
Josh Newgaard 2P, 2R, 1S
*Ethan Crouch 4P, 4R, 2A, 4S
*Jacob Olerud 12P, 2R, 2A, 3S
Bryce Berns 11P, 1R, 3A, 1S
*Jaxon Strinmoen 16P, 6R, 5A, 4S, 1B
Elijah Solum out injured
Caleb Eiken 1A
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Spring Grove Varsity Boys (1-0, 1-0 SEC)
W at Schaeffer Academy 68-36
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12/14 at La Crescent-Hokah
12/19 at LeRoy-Ostrander
12/21 Glenville-Emmons
12/22 Lanesboro
01/04 at Lyle/Pacelli
01/05 Southland
01/06 vs. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (at Hayfield)
01/09 at Grand Meadow
01/12 Mabel-Canton
01/15 at Houston
01/16 at Kingsland
01/19 at Lanesboro
01/25 Kingsland
01/26 Schaeffer Academy 7:30 pm
01/29 at Fillmore Central (Preston)
02/01 LeRoy-Ostrander
02/02 at Glenville-Emmons 6 p.m.
02/05 Lyle/Pacelli
02/08 at Southland
02/10 at Rushford-Peterson 5 p.m.
02/12 Rochester STEM Academy
02/15 Grand Meadow
02/16 Martin County West 6:15 p.m.
02/19 at Mabel-Canton
02/23 Houston