The Spring Grove boys could not catch up after state-ranked No. 1 Hayfield (28-2) separated with an 8-0 first-half scoring spurt and went on to win, 54-40, during a 2022 Section 1A semi-final at Rochester. The Lions (24-5), state-ranked No. 10, with the No. 4 section seed, handled the ball better than they had the previous game, but not as well as they had most of the season. Both teams had 13 turnovers and hit 7 of 11 free throws, but the Vikings rebounded better (29-to-21) and shot too well to be upset.
Photo by Lee Epps
After shooting 42% from the field for the season, the Lions shot only 35% against Hayfield. Although that was enough to win four previous games, it was not enough to prevail against the top-ranked Vikings, whose 48% was the fourth-best for an opponent in Spring Grove’s 29 games. The Lions matched their good season average of 33% from 3-point land, but they attempted only half as many as usual (3 for 9). Sophomore Jacob Olerud went 2 for 3. But again, the Vikings were better with a very strong 44% accuracy from deep (7 for 16).
The Lions’ only lead came in the first few seconds when Elijah Solum drove the baseline to deliver an assist pass to Carson Gerard. Solum then blocked the Vikings’ first shot and soon netted the game’s first free throw. But Hayfield responded with junior sharpshooter Isaac Matti nailing 3 of 4 early triples. But the Vikings led only 13-11 before securing their advantage by passing the ball into the post, where husky 6-foot-4 sophomore Zander Jacobson scored three of his team’s four straight baskets, an eight-point run for a 21-11 lead.
The Lions were back within seven, 24-17, after a defense-dominated first half. The second stanza began with a Viking 3-ball followed by a steal and lay-up that quickly made it 29-17. Solum scored the next five points, but that was the closest Spring Grove would come to a scoring run. The Lions got no closer than that seven-points with the greatest deficit of 14 coming in the final minute.
Solum, the KFIL-radio Lion Player of the Game, finished with 13 points and 5 assists, both team-high totals. Gerard, in his final high school game, was the radio Game Ball Award winner, putting in 10 points along with a team high 6 rebounds and a game-high 4 blocked shots. Tysen Grinde contributed 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a team-high 4 steals.
For the defending state champions, Matti performed on the perimeter, sinking 5 of 8 treys and 8 of 13 overall (62%) for a game-high 21 points plus 4 assists. Close to the basket, Jacobson supplied 12 points and shared game rebounding honors with 6-0 senior Ethan Fritcher, each with 8 boards. While scoring 9 points, Fritcher surpassed 1,000 career points.
This deep into the playoffs, defense often determines the pace. With only six points scored in transition, it was a half-court defensive grind – Spring Grove in a zone with Hayfield in a man-to-man. The Lions held the Vikings 17 points below their season scoring average, Hayfield’s fifth lowest score in 30 games. But Spring Grove was 18 points below its average score, its third lowest score in 29 games.
It was only the programs’ third meeting, all in the playoffs. In 2018, No. 2 section seed Spring Grove overwhelmed No. 15 Hayfield, 69-29. A year later on the way to the state tournament, the No. 1 seeded Lions slipped past the greatly improved No. 4 Vikings, 45-43, in the section semi-finals. This year, it was again a semi-final matchup, but the seeds were reversed with defending state champion No. 1 Hayfield challenged by No. 4 Spring Grove. But also again, the seeding held, and the Vikings (28-2) advance again to the section title game, this time against No. 3 seed Goodhue (23-6), which qualified with a 44-42 overtime win over No. 2 Rushford-Peterson.
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>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 17 + 23 = 40
>>Hay 24 + 30 = 54
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 35% (15-43), Hay 48% (20-42)
2-pt FG: SG 35% (12-34), Hay 50% (13-26)
3-pt FG: SG 33% (3-9), Hay 44% (7-16)
Free throws: SG 64% (7-11), Hay 64% (7-11); Rebounds: SG 21, Hay 29; Turnovers: SG 13, Hay 13; 2nd Chance points: SG 0, Hay 13; Fast break points: SG 2, Hay 4; Points in paint: SG 25, Hay 31; Greatest lead: SG 2, Hay 14; Fouls: SG 14, Hay 13; Fouled out: SG 0, Hay 1
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. Caleb Griffin 1 R; *Tysen Grinde 7P, 4R, 3A, 4S; *Hunter Holland 2P, 2R, 1A, 1S; Jacob Olerud 6P, 1S; *Carson Gerard 10P, 6R, 4B; *Jaxon Strinmoen 2P, 4R, 3S; *Elijah Solum 13P, 4R, 5A, 1B
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Section 1A Tournament 2022
(#14) Bethlehem Academy 61, (#19) Glenville-Emmons 39
(#15) Schaeffer Academy 60, (#18) Houston 24
(#16) Wabasha-Kellogg 66, (#17) Mabel-Canton 54
ROUND of 16
(#1) Hayfield 84, (#16) Wabasha-Kellogg 46
(#8) Randolph 83, (#9) LeRoy-Ostrander 63
(#4) Spring Grove 62, (#13) Kingsland 27
(#5) Kenyon-Wanamingo 69, (#12) Grand Meadow 59
(#2) Rushford-Peterson 59, (#15) Schaeffer Academy 35
(#7) Southland 75, (#10) Lanesboro 53
(#3) Goodhue 76, (#19) Bethlehem Academy 34
(#6) Lyle/Pacelli 78, (#11) Fillmore Central 70
QUARTERFINALS
(#1) Hayfield 66, (#8) Randolph 62
(#4) Spring Grove 51, (#5) Kenyon-Wanamingo 35
(#2) Rushford-Peterson 53 (#7) Southland 42
(#3) Goodhue 47 (#6) Lyle/Pacelli 39
SEMI-FINALS, March 12
(#1) Hayfield 54, (#4) Spring Grove 40
(#3) Goodhue 44, (#2) Rushford-Peterson 42 OT
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS, March 17
#1 Hayfield (28-2) vs. #3 Goodhue (23-6)