The Spring Grove basketball boys return five of last year’s 12 letter winners, but the Lions bring back less than half of the scoring and only a fourth of the rebounding. For the second straight season, Caden Grinde is the lone full-time returning starter, who was also the most celebrated as the Spring Grove MVP and two-time all-conference selection. Illness provided opportunity for Hunter Holland, who started nine games late in his freshman season.
After nine consecutive conference championships, last year’s most inexperienced Lions in program history finished in a second-place tie with a 9-5 league record. At 13-13 overall, a string of 21 winning records ended.
Grinde, a 6-foot-4 senior point guard, led the entire conference in steals while leading the Lion offense in both scoring (16.7 points per game), assists (3.8 apg) and free throw percentage (61%).
Holland is now a 5-8 sophomore guard who played in 22 of 26 varsity games. The other three letter winners are 6-4 junior forward/post Carson Gerard who played in 20 game, 6-1 freshman forward Elijah Solum, who played in 20 games, and 6-1 sophomore guard Tysen Grinde, who saw action in 15 contests.
Returning with B-team experience are 5-4 guard junior Jonah Udstuen plus sophomores 5-10 Caleb Griffin and 5-11 Logan Brumm along with freshmen 5-9 Isaac Nerstad, 6-4 Josh Newgaard, 5-9 Jacob Olerud, 6-2 Ethan Crouch and 6-1 Jaxon Strinmoen. Senior Isaac Gengler is back on the court for the first time in three years while senior Tristan Hammel is playing for the
Statistically, last year’s Lions outperformed the opponents in assists, steals, charges taken, rebounding and scoring. Percentagewise, they were outshot from the field, especially from 3-point range, and significantly outshot from the free throw line, 66% to 54%. But superior ball-handling and many more steals allowed them to attempt considerably more shots and score 53 points per game to the opponents’ 47.
There is more speed and quickness than last year. There is adequate height, but rebounding on the varsity level is unproven. Wade Grinde teams are always well-schooled in defense, and ball-handling could again be a strength as Grinde, Grinde, Solum and Holland all had more assists than turnovers. But Caden Grinde will surely draw the attention of opposing defenses and will need some support putting the ball into the basket.
On the 15-player roster, Caden Grinde is the only senior veteran, and Gerard is the lone junior who played in more than one varsity game. Despite a young lineup, there is more experience this year than last winter. However, there are four starting positions to replace and new varsity roles to define. The young Lions have been successful thus far with last year’s B-team going 15-5, the eighth graders 12-4 and seventh graders 13-4.
The B-team, with balanced scoring, outshot and outscored the opponents. The program needs these young Lions to continue to perform better than the opposition. But they will be facing juniors and seniors as they move into the varsity spotlight. There is little time for further seasoning before conference race begins after only eight practices and no scrimmages following a COVID-canceled summer league.
Three coaches have 92 seasons of combined coaching experience. In his 27th season at Spring Grove, Wade Grinde heads the staff for a 26th season and is assisted again by Al Lochner for his 33rd season at Spring Grove andMinnesota Hall of Fame coach Tom Vix in his third season at Spring Grove and 35th overall. The entire coaching staff is back. Aric Elton, career leader in both rebounds and made free throws and second all-time in both scoring and steals, will again lead the junior high program, assisted by Toby Leahy, Class of 2017.
Coach Grinde, noting that a lot of young athletes will see significant playing time, says he is “happy with the progress. We get better every day. The team is starting to come together.”
Even without any COVID cancelations, 2021 will be an abbreviated season, starting out with a 16-game, nine-week regular season, all conference games. As yet, there is no decision on playoffs. Randolph, the reigning SEC West Division champion, is moving into the East Division, making it a six-team race. Four of the six bring back an All-SEC player.
The Lion boys opened on Dec. 14. at West Division Grand Meadow. The Superlarks were coming off a 21-8 season, featuring Colt Landers, the league’s best 3-point shooter in 2020. The boys are home on Jan. 18 versus Mabel-Canton and again on Jan. 21 against defending division champion Schaeffer Academy.
With COVID restrictions, each player will receive two tickets for each home game. No visiting fans will be admitted, but every game will be streamed live by the home team, and some gams may be shown live at the Cinema. Check the Spring Grove school web site for a link to the stream. Most game nights have the Lion boys and girls playing the same opponent at opposite sites.
Lions the Last 7 seasons
SG boys Basketball
2020 13-13 (9-5 SEC, tie 2nd East)
2019 25-5 (14-0 SEC, 1st East)
2018 24-6 (13-0 SEC, 1st East)
2017 24-4 (13-0 SEC, 1st East)
2016 28-2 (20-0 SEC, 1st East)
2015 24-4 (19-1 SEC, 1st East)
2014 25-4 (18-0 SEC, 1st East)
total 163-38 (106-6 SEC)
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Conference championships – 21
2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 1979, 1978, 1973, 1957, 1956, 1954, 1952
Spring Grove Boys Basketball 2021 (approximately 7:15 unless noted)
01/14 at Grand Meadow
01/18 Mabel-Canton 6 p.m.
01/21 `Schaeffer Academy
01/25 at Houston
01/28 at Randolph
02/01 at Schaeffer Academy
02/04 Houston
02/08 Randolph
02/11 at Mabel-Canton
02/16 at Lanesboro
02/19 Lanesboro
02/23 at Glenville-Emmons
02/26 LeRoy-Ostrander
03/02 at Lyle/Pacelli
03/05 Southland
03/12 Kingsland
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