The visiting Spring Grove boys rallied late with a 13-to-3 run to regain the lead and hold off Grand Meadow, 45-41, in the 2021 season and conference basketball opener for both teams on Jan. 15. It was appropriate that both teams scored in the 40s during the Lions’ 44th straight win against the Superlarks, dating back to 1999.
The Lions had led throughout the first half by as many as eight points before the Superlarks scored on 7 of 9 possessions for an 18-to-2 run, which turned a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead (32-25). All six Superlark 3-balls came after trailing 20-14 at halftime. But the Lions scored on 10 of their final 15 possessions to regain control. The Grove guys did not go to the free throw line until the final 41 seconds of the game when they iced the outcome by sinking 6 of 10 foul shots.
Caden Grinde scored 10 of his game-high 16 points during that late 13-3 game-clinching outburst. The two-time All-SEC senior finished with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and a blocked shot. Freshman Elijah Solum tossed in 14 points along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Sophomore Tysen Grinde added 6 points and a team-high 7 boards, but Grand Meadow won the rebounding battle, 38 to 27.
Taylor Glynn led Superlark scoring and rebounding with 10 points and 7 boards. Three-time All-SEC Colt Landers put in 8 points and rebounded 5 times.
It was a tale of two halves, but not in the usual sense. The two scoring runs of the second half were a sharp contrast to a back-and-forth first stanza. The Lions scored first and maintained narrow leads on the way to a 20-14 halftime edge.
Tysen Grinde opened the second half with a trey, and Grove quickly led by nine, but the Superlarks would explode to lead for nine minutes (by as many as seven points) until a Solum drive put the Lions ahead with only 2:43 to play.
Grove led only 39-38 with 41 seconds remaining and did not shoot again from the field while camping out at the foul line where the Lions extended a one-point lead to seven (45-38). The game ended with Glynn netting a 3-pointer for GM at the buzzer.
Coach Wade Gride said the staff was well pleased at how well several younger players adjusted to varsity action.
VARSITY: SG 45, GM 41
>>SG 20+25=45
>>GM 14+27=41
all FG: SG 37% (17-46), GM 31% (16-51)
2-pt. FG: SG 48% (12-25), GM 31% (10-32)
3-pt. FG: SG 24% (5-21); GM 32% (6-19)
Free throws: SG 60% (6-10), GM 75% (3-4); Rebounds: SG 27, GM 38; Turnovers: SG 12, GM 16; Fast break pts: SG 4, GM 4; Points in paint: SG 14, GM 17; Greatest lead: SG 8, GM 7; Fouls: SG 9, GM 15
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Caleb Griffin 3P, 1R, 2S; *Caden Grinde 16P, 6R, 2A, 4S, 1B; *Tysen Grinde 6P, 7R, 2A, 2S, 1B; *Hunter Holland 2R, 1S; *Carson Gerard 6P, 3R, 1A, 2S; Strinmoen 2R; *Elijah Solum 14P, 6R, 2A
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Lions take B-game, 56-30
Freshman Jaxon Strinmoen posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double double to go with 6 steals and 4 assists with no turnovers as Spring Grove left the Larks behind in the second half. The Lions never trailed but led only 21-18 at intermission before shooting 56% in the second half.
Besides shooting slightly better overall from the field (39% to 32%), Spring Grove shot far more often – greatly due to eight more offensive rebounds and only eight turnovers all game. The Grove guys passed out twice that many assists (16). Four Lions had more assists than turnovers. Eighteen Spring Grove steals accounted for most of the 22 Grand Meadow turnovers.
Freshman Jacob Olerud had a stellar stat line with 8 points, 2 rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists with only one turnover. Eight of the nine Lions scored; Caleb Griffin added another 8 points while centers Ethan Crouch (6 rebounds) and Josh Newgaard each chipped in with 6 points. Logan Brumm contributed 5 points and 5 boards. Isaac Nerstad netted another 5 points. Jonah Udstuen tossed in 2 points to go with 2 assists and no turnovers.
B-TEAM: SG 56, GM 30
>>SG 21+35=56
>>GM 18+12=30
all FG: SG 39% (24-61), GM 32% (12-37)
2-pt. FG: SG 73% (19-42), GM 42% (11-26)
3-pt. FG: SG 26% (5-19), GM 9% (1-11)
Free throws: SG 43% (3-7), GM 71% (5-7); Rebounds: SG 30, GM 25; Turnovers: SG 8, GM 22; Fast break pts: SG 16, GM 78; Greatest lead: SG 31, GM 0; Fouls: SG 9, GM 15
B-TEAM INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin8P, 3R, 2A; Jonah Udstuen 2P, 2A; Isaac Nerstad 5P, 2R,1S; Josh Newgaard 6P, 2R, 3S; Tristan Hammel no stats; *Logan Brumm 5P, 5R, 2A, 1S; *Jacob Olerud 8P, 2R, 4A, 6S; *Ethan Crouch 6P, 6R, 1S; *Jaxon Strinmoen 14P, 10R, 4A, 6S