First team to 58 points won last week, and so did both visiting teams. The Houston girls edged Spring Grove, 58-55, on Jan. 18, two nights before the Lions won at LeRoy-Ostrander, 58-33. The Hurricanes had also scored 58 in their previous win against Spring Grove, but the Lions scored 23 more points in this conference rematch than they had at Houston in early December.
At LeRoy-Ostrander, what started out as a Lion runaway ended up as a runaway. But in between, the Cardinals came really close to catching up. This was a non-conference clash; the teams will play their SEC contest at Spring Grove in February. The Lions closed the week at 5-10 (4-4 SEC East) while Houston improved to 10-5 (6-3 SEC East). LeRoy-Ostrander slipped to 3-10 (2-5 SEC West)
Photo by Lee Epps
In the B-team games, 34 was the winning total. The Lions (4-4) earned a season split with a 34-31 win against Houston and then defeated L-O, 34-15. Kendal VanMinsel scored 15 points versus the Hurricanes while Carlie Halverson tallied 14 against the Cardinals.
The eighth grade girls (0-5) lost at Houston, 18-36, while the seventh graders (6-1) completed a season sweep of the Hurricanes, 36-14 and also won at LeRoy-Ostrander, 45-8.)
SG 55, Houston 58
Addyson McHugh had career-high totals with 25 points and 5 assists to go with 5 rebounds and 6 steals. Emerson Ingvalson passed out a career-best 5 assists. The Lions shot season-high percentages from both 3-point land (33%) and closer in (53%). The dozen 3-point baskets was also a season-best with McHugh going 7 for 12 from downtown. Four different Lions netted 3-balls, including three triples by Jordian Leahy. Spring Grove aired up twice as many trey attempts (36) as 2-point tries (18). They shot well when they shot, but they rarely shot from the free throw line and were saddled with 26 turnovers (10 more than Houston).
Overall, the Lions shot a season-best 40% from the field, a considerable improvement from the 24% they shot at Houston in December. They outscored Houston by eight points from the field, but the ‘Canes thrived at the foul line where they sank 12 of 16 free throws while limiting the Lions to a season-low four attempts (1 for 4).
It was entertaining from start to finish with 11 lead changes and eight tie scores. The Lions led for much of the first half, by as many as eight points (17-9). But Houston scored the next eight points. Later, the Hurricanes converted a pair of late steals into four points to edge ahead, 27-25 at halftime. Grove tied it again with the first shot of the second half, but Houston appeared to finally take control with a 10-point run. But back came the Lions with 10 unanswered points of their own.
The Grove girls led 52-50 with 4:20 to play, but they would fall out of contention with eight scoreless possessions while the visitors scored eight straight points (58-52). Lion junior Lydia Solum threw in a long-range buzzer-beater to cut the margin in half.
Sydney Torgerson scored 19 points to lead Houston to an 11th straight win against Spring Grove, but the Lions still dominate all-time, 84 wins to 19.
SG 58, LeRoy-Ostrander 33
The Lions, with four early 3-point field goals, roared out to a 17-2 start. But then, they added only one basket in their next 23 possessions. The Cardinals were back within two points (19-17) and had the ball with a chance to tie or go ahead. But they were foiled by two turnovers, and a driving bucket by McHugh sent the Lions limping into halftime with a slim 21-17 margin.
Spring Grove regained the scoring touch and separated again, this time with a 30-to-4 scoring splurge. There would be no Lion drought or Redbird rally during the second half when SG outscored the Cardinals, 37-16. Leroy-Ostrander continued to self-destruct with a torrent of turnovers and by the final buzzer, the home team had lost possession 35 times. Ingvalson contributed to that Cardinal collapse with a career-high 8 steals.
The weak spot for Spring Grove was at the free throw line, where the Lions shot a season-worst 23% (3 for 13). But they lost no ground, since they limited the Cards to only six free throws (2 for 6). And despite 10 rebounds from Solum, 8 from McHugh and 6 caroms each from Ingvalson and Katelyn Kraus, the Lions were out-boarded, 32 to 27. Grove has lost the backboard battle for the 14th consecutive contest, every night since the season opener.
Leahy poured in 20 points while McHugh contributed in all phases with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists and a blocked shot. Solum contributed 8 points and Kraus 7. For L-O, freshman forward Benita Nolt had a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double while blocking 5 shots. Jordan Runde added 10 points. The Cardinals were without
injured senior starter Gracie O’Byrne.
LeRoy-Ostrander won last year’s game, snapping a 36-game losing streak against Spring Grove. The Lions have taken 37 of the last 38 and lead the all-time series, 58 to 12.
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VARSITY STATISTICS vs. HOUSTON
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 25 + 30 = 55
>>Hou 27 + 31 = 58
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 40% (21-53), Hou 36% (21-58)
2-pt FG: SG 53% (9-17), Hou 47% (17-36)
3-pt FG: SG 33% (12-36), Hou 18% (4-22)
Free throws: SG 25% (1-4), Hou 75% (12-16); Rebounds: SG 28, Hou 30; Turnovers: SG 26, Hou 16; 2nd Chance points: SG 7, Hou 11; Fast break points: SG 8, Hou 16; Points in paint: SG 17, Hou 39; Greatest lead: SG 8, Hou 10; Fouls: SG 15, Hou 10
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Siri Konkel 3P, 3R, 3A; *Lydia Solum 7P, 1R 1A, 1S; Ava Olerud 3R; *Addyson McHugh 25P, 5R, 5A, 6S; Jordian Leahy 9P, 3R, 2A, 1S; *Emerson Ingvalson 6P, 7R, 5A, 2S; *Katelyn Kraus 5P, 6R, 2S, 1B
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VARSITY STATISTICS vs. LeROY-OSTRANDER
>>SCORE by HALVES
>>SG 21 + 17 = 58
>>LO 17 + 16 = 33
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 32% (24-74), LO 26% (15-58)
2-pt FG: SG 33% (17-52), LO 29% (14-48)
3-pt FG: SG 32% (7-22), LO 10% (1-10)
Free throws: SG 23% (3-13), LO 33% (2-6); Rebounds: SG 37, LO 42; Turnovers: SG 18, LO 35; 2nd Chance points: SG 12, LO 11; Fast break points: SG 6, LO 13; Points in paint: SG 33, LO 26; Greatest lead: SG 28, LO 0; Fouls: SG 9, LO 9
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. *starter. *Siri Konkel 2P, 1R, 2A, 2S; *Lydia Solum 8P, 10R, 3A, 1S; Addison Halverson 2P, 1R; Ava Olerud 1R, 3A, 1S; Kati Klug no stats; *Addyson McHugh 15P, 8R, 2A, 5S, 1B; Carlie Halverson 1S; Cierra Blaskowski 1R, 1S; Jordian Leahy 20P, 3R, 4S; *Emerson Ingvalson 2P, 6R, 2A, 8S; *Katelyn Kraus 7P, 6R, 1A, 1S, 4B
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B-TEAM vs. HOUSTON
>>SG 19 + 15 = 34
>>Hou 12 + 19 = 31
all FG: SG 15, Hou 10
2-pt FG: SG 14, Hou 10
3-pt FG: SG 1, Hou 0
Free throws: SG 3-6, Hou 11-26
Fouls: SG 19, Hou 11
INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Kendal VanMinsel 15, Kylie Hammel 8, Carlie Halverson 4, Sydney Holland 3, Siri Konkel 2, Katie Klug 2
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B-TEAM vs. LeROY-OSTRANDER
>>SG 16+18 = 34
>>LO 8 + 7 = 15
all FG: SG 14, LO 6
2-pt FG: SG 12, LO 5
3-pt FG: SG 2, LO 1
Free throws: SG 4-6, LO 2-4
Fouls: SG 11, LO 8
INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Carlie Halverson 14, Katie Klug 9, Siri Konkel 7, Kylie Hammel 4
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SEC Girls BB
>>EAST DIVISION
Lanesboro 5-1 SEC (11-4 season)
Houston 6-3 SEC (10-6 season)
Spring Grove 4-4 SEC (5-10 season)
Mabel-Canton 2-5 SEC (5-10 season)
Schaeffer Aca. 0-6 SEC (2-12 season
>>WEST DIVISION
Kingsland 6-0 SEC (10-7 season)
Grand Meadow 7-1 SEC (12-3 season)
Southland 2-5 SEC (3-11 season)
LeRoy-Ostrander 2-5 SEC (3-11 season)
Lyle/Pacelli 1-5 SEC (2-12 season)
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Spring Grove Girls Basketball 2021-’22 (approximate 7:15 tipoff unless noted) *conference game
>>>5 wins, 10 losses (4-4 SEC)
W at Schaeffer Academy* 60-27
L vs. Decorah, Iowa 14-69
L vs. New Hampton, Iowa 38-57
L at Triton 38-70
L at Houston* 32-58
W vs. Mabel-Canton*43-38
W vs. Southland*54-45
L St. Charles 39-48
L at Lanesboro* 35-58
>>>Rushford-Peterson Christmas Invite
L at Rushford-Peterson 19-61
L vs. Dover-Eyota 37-77
W vs. Schaeffer Academy* 49-42
L at Grand Meadow*21-66
L vs. Houston*55-58
W at LeRoy-Ostrander (non-conference) 58-33
Mon. 01/24 at Waukon, Iowa 7:30 pm
Tues. 01/25 Kingsland*
Thur. 01/27 at Mabel-Canton*
Mon. 01/31 Lewiston-Altura
Fri. 01/04 Lanesboro*
Sat. 02/05 at Plainview-Elgin-Millville 1:30 pm
Tues. 02/08 Fillmore Central
Thur. 02/10 Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons
Fri. 02/11 LeRoy-Ostrander*
Mon. 02/14 at Southland (non-conference)
Fri. 02/18 at Lyle/Pacelli* (at Lyle)
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Spring Grove B-team Girls (6-6)
L vs. Decorah 17-36
W at Triton 40-33
L at Houston 32-40
W vs. Mabel-Canton 34-20
L vs. Southland 28-36
W vs. St. Charles 35-27
W at Lanesboro 28-21
L at Rushford-Peterson 9-44
L vs. Dover-Eyota 9-59
L at Grand Meadow 21-29
W vs. Houston 34-31
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 34-15
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Spring Grove 8th Grade Girls (0-5)
L vs. Lansing Kee 18-46
L at Houston 25-36
L at South Winneshiek 19-23
L at Lanesboro 25-26
L vs. Houston 18-36
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Spring Grove 7th Grade Girls (6-1)
L vs. Lansing Kee 22-31
W at Houston 46-18
W at South Winneshiek 25-13
W at Lanesboro 25-15
W at Grand Meadow 33-3
W vs. Houston 36-14
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 45-8