The Spring Grove girls (1-3, 1-2 SEC), with better ball-handling and shooting, were competitive until the end of both games last week. They faded in the final couple of minutes of a 34-31 loss at Mabel-Canton (Jan. 18), but they rallied late for a 47-39 win at Schaeffer Academy (Jan. 21). Coming into this 107th meeting between Spring Grove and Mabel-Canton, each team had won 53, lost 53. Appropriately, last week’s series tie-breaker went down to the wire.
In both games last week, the losing team dropped a close decision while going scoreless during the final three minutes. The Lions improved to 1-3, including a 1-2 conference record.
“It was nice to come out and get in the win column,” said coach Kody Moore. “The girls have been working really hard and went out and earned this one. I have been very pleased with what we’re are doing defensively in the early part of the season. If we can continue to improve rebounding defensively and finding a variety of balanced scoring from multiple girls, we will be able to challenge a lot of teams. “
at Mabel-Canton 34, Spring Grove 31
After seven early lead changes, Spring Grove spent much of the game playing catch-up. After trailing 21-15 at halftime and by 10 points early in the second half, The Lions finally did pull even with three and half minutes to play, but never scored again. Mabel-Canton scored the winning points while sinking only 3-of-8 free throws.
Mabel-Canton (1-1, 1-1 SEC) earned a three-point victory with five-point advantages in both fast breaks and free throws. The Cougars did not prevail by shooting better at the charity stripe (MC 45%, SG 50%) but by getting to the line more often – for 20 attempts (9 for 20) while limiting the Lions to eight free throws (4 for 8). It was predominantly a half-court contest, but Mabel-Canton had five critical fast-break points, while Spring Grove did not score in transition.
With about a third of their 2-point attempts being blocked (33 shots, 10 blocked), the Lions shot a better percentage from 3-point range (36%, 5 for 14) than from closer in (21%). An Ava Olerud trey tied the score at 31-all, but the Grove girls went scoreless in their last five possessions. Shot selection was a factor on both ends of the floor as Spring Grove blocked 7 shots.
The KFIL-radio Players of the Game, Spring Grove’s Jordian Leahy and Mabel-Canton’s Lauren Wyffels, shared scoring honors with 10 points apiece. Lion sophomore Addyson McHugh (7 points) pulled down a game-high 9 rebounds, and freshman Katelyn Kraus (2 points) rebounded 6 times, but the Cougars had a 33-to-26 bulge on the boards.
Leahy with 5 steals and 2 blocked shots, along with McHugh with 4 thefts and 3 blocks, led the Lion defensive effort in a defensive game.
There were no B-team or junior high games.
Mabel-Canton 34, SG 31
SG 15+16=31
MC 21+13=34
all FG: SG 26% (11-42), MC 28% (11-40)
2-pt FG: SG 21% (6-28), MC 30% (8-27)
3-pt FG: SG 36% (5-14), MC 23% (3-13)
Free throws: SG 50% (4-8), MC 45% (9-20); Rebounds: SG 26, MC 33; Turnovers: SG 12, MC 13; Fast break points: SG 0, MC 5; Points in paint: SG 12, MC 19; Greatest lead: SG 1, MC 10; Fouls: SG 13, MC 11
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Sydney Holland 2R, 3A; Ava Olerud 5P; *Addyson McHugh 7P, 9R, 2A, 4S, 3B; *Lydia Solum 3R, 1A; Erika Donlan 1R; *Jordian Leahy 10P, 2R, 5S, 2B; *Emerson Ingvalson 7P, 3R, 2A, 1S, 2B; *Katelyn Kraus 2P, 6R, 1A
Spring Grove 47, at Schaeffer Academy 39
After losing the lead with 3:26 to play, Spring Grove moved back in front with only 2:16 remaining with a 3-point basket by McHugh. Grove scored the final nine points in an eight-point win. Meanwhile, they were surprising Schaeffer with a sudden and late full-court defense. Two steals by McHugh and a blocked shot by Kraus helped Grove shut out the home team down the stretch.
McHugh performed with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 steals. Kraus contributed 8 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists with no turnovers. Jordian Leahy (5 assists) and Emerson Ingvalson each added 11 points. Lydia Solum rebounded 6 times.
Schaeffer sophomore Kate Friese drilled four 3-pointers while pouring in 21 points. Schaeffer attempted 27 treys and buried six (22%), both a season-most for Spring Grove opponents. The Grove girls did net five triples of their own on a season-high 17 attempts, but they held their greatest advantage while outscoring the home team 28-15 inside the lane.
The late nine-point surge was decisive, but Grove could not protect an early eight-point, 17-9 lead. Schaeffer scored the next eight points to tie at 17-all, and the score remained close until the final minute. Spring Grove led 22-20 at halftime. Overall, there were 11 lead changes and the score was tied three times.
Grove won the rebounding battle for the first time this season, 36 to 29.
“We challenged them to come out and play high energy aggressive basketball and they did that,” said Coach Moore.
There were no B-team or eighth grade games, but the seventh grade contest went down to the wire with Spring Grove prevailing, 28-26.
SG 47, Schaeffer 39
SG 22+25=47.
SA 20+19=39
all FG: SG 32% (18-56), SA 26% (15-57);
2-pt FG: SG 33% (13-39), SA 30% (9-30);
3-pt FG: SG 29% (5-17), SA 22% (6-27);
Free throws: SG 46% (6-13), SA 30% (3-10); Rebounds: SG 36, SA 29; Turnovers: SG 189, SA 19; 2nd Chance points: SG 15, SA 10; Fast break points: SG 10, SA 5; Points in paint: SG 28, SA 15; Greatest lead: SG 9, SA 3; Fouls: SG 7, SA 11
SG INDIVIDUALS: Sydney Holland 3P, 3R, 1A, 1S, 1B; Ava Olerud 1A; *Addyson McHugh 14P, 9R, 1A, 2S; *Lydia Solum 6R, 1A, 2S; Erika Donlan 1R; *Jordian Leahy 11P, 3R, 5A, 1B; *Emerson Ingvalson 11P, 2R 1A, 2S; *Katelyn Kraus 8P, 12R, 3A, 1S, 1B