The Spring Grove boys opened the week with a cold-shooting, home non-conference setback against Rushford-Peterson in a 46-40 tight defensive struggle on Feb. 8 before coasting past visiting Kingsland, 60-24, four nights later to cap their tenth conference crown in 11 years. It was the sixth straight Lion loss to the Trojans and the sixth consecutive win versus the Knights.
The R-P outcome surely determined which team received the No. 4 and 5 seeds in this week’s Section 1A Tournament. It could be a quick rematch if No. 4 seed Rushford-Peterson (11-6) and No. 5 Spring Grove (13-3, 12-2 SEC) both get past their first playoff opponents. The Lions open postseason play hosting No. 12 seed Wabasha-Kellogg (3-12). In the 19-team tournament, the top seed went to Southland (15-2), which lost only twice, the second setback coming late in the season – at Spring Grove, 61-54. Last year, the Lions received the No. 9 seed and lost at No. 8 Southland, 59-47.
There were no B-team or junior high games against R-P. The B-team Lions closed the season with a 6-7 record after conquering Kingsland, 40-29. The eighth graders (10-1) suffered their first loss in the last game of the season, against Kingsland, 27-15. The seventh graders (3-7) fell to the Knights as well, 41-21.
Spring Grove 40, Rushford-Peterson 46
The Lions, trailing by two points, missed three shots during the final 40 seconds while Rushford-Peterson sank four free throws within one second of clock time. The Trojans had broken a 30-30 tie with a seven-point run, featuring two assists and a basket from 6-foot-4 senior guard Luke O’Hare. A rebound basket and free throw by Lion junior Carson Gerard had cut the seven-point deficit back to two points (42-40) with 45 seconds remaining.
“We were happy with the effort we gave putting ourselves in position to have a shot in the closing seconds to win the game,” said Lion mentor Wade Grinde. “Some nights, the ball doesn’t go in, and you just have to find a way.”
Two tough defenses determined a pace where every possession, every shot and every rebound was precious. The Lions attempted the most shots (47-36), but the Trojans shot a hot 51% to Spring Grove’s 35%.
Both teams made good use of limited free throw opportunities with Spring Grove going 7 for 9 (79%) and R-P hitting 5 of 6 (83%). Until the final minute and 24 seconds, the Trojans had not attempted a free throw. The Lions had two fewer turnovers (11-13) while R-P had two more rebounds (22-20).
Gerard led the Lions with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Elijah Solum added 10 points and Caden Grinde 8. The Trojans’ 6-4 junior forward Justin Ruberg grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds and led all scorers with 19 points, including three straight 3-pointers as the teams battled for the lead in the second half. His third 3-ball put R-P ahead to stay, 33-30, with seven minutes to play.
The Lions scored the first five points of the game, but they trailed 18-16 at the end of a low-scoring first half. Spring Grove (12-3) lost for only the third time. Rushford-Peterson improved to 10-6, but that includes a perfect 8-0 record against Class A competition, heading this week into the Section 1A Tournament.
“Albeit a loss, it was a great opportunity for our team to learn how to handle game situations better in the future,” added Coach Grinde.
The R-P playing rotation consisted of two seniors, three juniors and one sophomore. Younger Spring Grove started one senior, one junior, two sophomores and one freshman with another freshmen seeing limited action off the bench.
It was the Trojans’ sixth straight win in the series they dominate 46 wins to 10. There was no B-team or junior high action.
>>VARSITY: SG 40, RP 46
>>SG 16+24=40
>>RP 18+28=46
all FG: SG 35% (15-43), RP 51% (18-35)
2-pt. FG: SG 43% (12-28), RP 62% (13-21)
3-pt. FG: SG 20% (3-15), RP 62% (5-14)
Free throws: SG 78% (7-9), RP 83% (5-6); Rebounds: SG 20, RP 22; Turnovers: SG 11, RP 13; 2nd Chance points: SG 9, RP 13; Fast break points: SG 4, RP 2; Points in paint: SG 31, RP 23; Greatest lead: SG 5, RP 8; Fouls: SG 10, RP 13
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caden Grinde 8P, 3R, 4A, 4S; *Tysen Grinde 3P, 4R, 1A, 1S; *Hunter Holland 5P, 2R, 1A, 2S; *Carson Gerard 14P, 9R, 1A, 3S; Jaxon Strinmoen no stats; *Elijah Solum 10P, 2R, 1A
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Spring Grove 60, Kingsland 24
Spring Grove used defense, dribble drives and free throws to throttle three-win Kingsland (3-12, 3-11 SEC). The Lions feasted at the foul line, matching a season-most 35 free throw attempts with a second-most 21 makes (60%). Meanwhile, they defended aggressively with only nine fouls to allow Kingsland only six free throws (5 for 6, 83%). It was the Lions’ seventh game (out of 16) with single-digit fouls.
It was futility for all at the other line. Each team netted only one 3-point basket as Spring Grove went 1 for13 (a season-low 8%) and the Knights 1 for 15. But the Lions did not need perimeter points with their success getting close to the basket – invading the lane for 54 of their 60 points.
The Lions, for the ninth time in 16 games, had more assists (10) than turnovers (9). The Knights, try as they might, had difficulty getting good shots against the trapping Lion defense, which eventually had 15 steals contributing to 21 Kingsland turnovers. The Knights too often had to settle for 3-point attempts (15 three-point tries, 22 two-pointers). Junior Walker Erdman scored 14 of the Knights’ 24 points.
Solum passed out 5 assists with only one turnover in addition to a game-high 9 rebounds and 10 points. Also in double figures were Caden Grinde with a game-high 20 points and 7 steals plus Tysen Grinde with 11 points. With Gerard (5 points) grabbing 6 boards, Spring Grove outrebounded the Knights 28 to 17.
Kingsland led 2-1, and then smooth-to-the-metal-rim Solum floated in for two points, then came up with a steal and assist pass to Caden Grinde to ignite a 16-0 eruption on the way to a commanding 32-13 halftime lead. A 19-to-2 run, spanning halftime, made it a 30-point spread (35-15) early in the second half. It was 40 (60-20) before the reserves from both squads took the court.
Spring Grove has won eight of the nine games played against new conference rival Kingsland.
>>VARSITY: SG 60, KHS 24
>>SG…32+28=60
>>KHS 13+11=24
all FG: SG 46% (19-41), KHS 26% (9-35)
2-pt. FG: SG 64% (18-28), KHS 40% (8-20)
3-pt. FG: SG 8% (1-13), KHS 7% (1-15)
Free throws: SG 60% (21-35), KHS 83% (5-6); Rebounds: SG 28, KHS 17; Turnovers: SG 9, KHS 21; 2nd Chance points: SG 12, KHS 4; Fast break points: SG 18, KHS 6; Points in paint: SG 54, KHS 16; Greatest lead: SG 40, KHS 2; Fouls: SG 9, KHS 26
SG INDIVIDUALS: Jonah Udstuen no stats; Isaac Nerstad no stats; *Caden Grinde 20P, 4R, 2A, 7S; *Tysen Grinde 11P, 4R, 2A, 2S; *Hunter Holland 8P, 1R, 1A, 2S; Josh Newgaard no stats; Tristan Hammel 1R, 1S; Logan Brumm no stats; Jacob Olerud out injured; Isaac Genglerno stats; *Carson Gerard 5P, 6R, 1S; Ethan Crouch 2P, 2R; Jaxon Strinmoen 4P, 1R; *Elijah Solum 10P, 9R, 5A, 2S
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B-TEAM: Spring Grove 40, Kingsland 29
The B-boys won by 11 points with a 12-point advantage from 3-point territory. Caleb Griffin played only the first half but put in 12 points along with 5 rebounds. Ethan Crouch had 11 rebounds to go with 4 points, 6 blocked shots, 3 assists and 2 steals. All nine Lions rebounded, eight scored and five had assists.
While Spring Grove hit 4 of 12 trey attempts, the Knights went 0 for12 from downtown. Kingsland also left the game at the foul line, missing 16 free throws (7 for 23) in an 11-point loss.
The Lions led by 11 at halftime (18-7) but struggled in the second half against the Knights’ full-court defense. After only five turnovers before the break, the Lions lost possession 13 times in the second half. But Kingsland could never shoot well enough to take advantage of the Lion miscues. The Knights would trail by as many as 19 points and got no closer than 10. At the end, both teams had scored 22 points after intermission, and the 11-point. halftime margin was also the final count.
>>B-TEAM: SG 40, KHS 29
>>SG..18+22=40
>>KHS 7+22=29
B-TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 39% (16-41), KHS 22% (11-49)
2-pt. FG: SG 41% (12-29), KHS 30% (11-37)
3-pt. FG: SG 33% (4-12), KHS 0% (0-12)
Free throws: SG 36% (4-11), KHS 30% (7-23)
Rebounds: SG 32, KHS 37
Turnovers: SG 18, KHS 13
Greatest lead: SG 19, KHS 0
Fouls: SG 21, KHS 13
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin12P, 5R, 1A, 2S; Jonah Udstuen 6P, 1R, 2A; Isaac Nerstad 5P, 2R, 2A; Josh Newgaard 4P, 1R; *Tristan Hammel 2P, 3R; Logan Brumm 3P, 5R, 1B; Jacob Olerud out injured; *Isaac Gengler 1R, 1S; *Ethan Crouch 4P, 11R, 3A, 2S, 6B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 4P, 3R, 2A, 2B
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End of regular season
>>SEC EAST DIVISION
Spring Grove*………12-2 SEC, 13-3 season
Randolph……………. 10-5 SEC, 11-6 season
Lanesboro 7-7 SEC, 7-11 season
Schaeffer Academy 6-8 SEC, 6-9 season
Mabel-Canton 4-11 SEC, 5-13 season
Houston 0-15 SEC, 0-17 season
* champion East Division
>>SEC WEST DIVISION
Lyle/Pacelli…………15-1 SEC, 16-2 season
Southland…………..12-2 SEC, 15-2 season
Grand Meadow 8-6 SEC, 9-6 season
LeRoy-Ostrander 6-7 SEC, 7-7 season
Kingsland 3-11 SEC, 3-12 season
Glenville-Emmons 0-8 SEC, 0-8 season
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Varsity Boys Basketball 2021). >>13-3 season, 12-2 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
W at Schaeffer Academy 59-43
W vs. Houston 64-15
W vs. Randolph 67-54
W at Mabel-Canton 60-24
W at Lanesboro 67-39
W vs. Lanesboro 63-24
W vs. Fillmore Central 68-47
L at Lyle/Pacelli 38-51
W vs. Southland 61-54
L vs. Rushford-Peterson 40-46
03/11 at Glenville-Emmons, canceled
W vs. Kingsland 60-24
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B-team Boys Basketball 2021. >>6 wins, 7 losses
W at Grand Meadow 56-30
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 38-22
W at Houston 53-12
L at Randolph 44-47 (OT)
L at Schaeffer Academy 33-36
W vs. Houston 48-6
L vs. Randolph 17-39
W at Mabel-Canton 55-17
L at Lanesboro 31-43
L vs. Lanesboro 42-44
L vs. Fillmore Central 38-42
L at Lyle/Pacelli 30-42
W vs. Kingsland 40-29
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8th Grade Boys Basketball 2021 >>10 wins, 1 loss
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 29-13
W at Houston 35-15
W at Schaeffer Academy 39-23
W at Mabel-Canton 37-16
W vs. Randolph 23-20
W at Lanesboro 34-16
W vs. Lanesboro 35-23
W vs. Fillmore Central 38-13
W vs. Houston 33-5
W vs. Mabel-Canton 44-24
L vs. Kingsland 15-27
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7th Grade Boys Basketball 2021 >>3 wins, 7 losses
L at Houston 24-34
L at Mabel-Canton 23-39
L vs. Randolph 11-42
L at Lanesboro 32-38
W vs. Lanesboro 35-23
L vs. LeRoy-Ostrander 28-33
W vs. Fillmore Central 35-26
W vs. Houston 30-22
L vs. Mabel-Canton 19-31
L vs. Kingsland 21-41