The Spring Grove girls, within four nights, faced three opponents with widely varied win-loss records. A losing streak against Lyle/Pacelli ended as the week began with a 56-49 home victory over the one-win Athletics on March 2. Two days later, it was a decisive 63-23 home loss to undefeated, 11-win Houston.
The next night, it was a similar score, 68-24, at Adams against Southland (8-7). One constant, even in the win, was Spring Grove being significantly outscored in transition. The Lions enter the final week of the regular season at 3-10 (3-9 SEC).
The Spring Grove B-team (0-6) dropped a 31-16 decision against Lyle/Pacelli and fell 48-8 versus Houston. The Lion eighth grade squad (4-1) defeated Mabel-Canton, 37-24.
at SG 56, Lyle/Pacelli 49
While L/P junior guard Alana Rogne poured in 31 points, Spring Grove sophomore Addyson McHugh had career highs with 21 points and 15 rebounds along with 5 steals. Jordian Leahy netted 17 points, and eighth grade guard Emerson Ingvalson also scored in double figures with a career-high 14 points to go with 4 steals.
There was a frantic pace with the teams combining for 134 official shots, 82 rebounds, 40 fast-break points and 47 turnovers. The clock stopped often with 42 total fouls and 56 free throws. The Athletics scored 32 of their 49 points on fast breaks. Half-court sets usually resulted in quick shots or turnovers.
A season-high 19 Lion steals contributed to 30 L/P turnovers. With neither team shooting well, each team grabbed 41 rebounds. But with 13 more offensive boards and 13 fewer turnovers, Spring Grove attempted an amazing 75 shots from the field (when not fouled) and 32 free throws. Those two totals and 16 made free throws were all season-high numbers.
The Athletics stood at the foul line for 24 attempts (13-for 24). The L/P girls hit more than half of their free throws and 2-point shots but went 0 for 13 beyond the 3-point arc. The Athletics outshot SG from the field 38% to 23%, but were outscored by 18 points from 3-point land.
The teams traded early scoring runs. The Lions led by five points before L/P scored 12 straight. Spring Grove soon ran off 13 unanswered points to lead 27-21 on the way to a 37-31 halftime lead. The Lions would lead by as many as 10 points before closing out the seven-point win.
“I loved the energy and up-tempo style the girls came out and played with,” said coach Kody Moore. “We struggled a little bit early on with transition defense, but it got a little better throughout. We do need to do a better job of getting the ball stopped and making other team’s primary scorers give it up. Hopefully we can continue to focus on doing the little things correctly and get better with each game moving forward into the tournament.”
Spring Grove ended a 10-game losing streak against the Athletics. The Lions lead the all-time series, 25 wins to 11. For the season, Spring Grove snapped a five-game losing slide, while it was a 14th straight loss for L/P (1-14, 1-12 SEC).
>>SG 56, L/P 49
>>SG 37+19=56
>>L/P 31+18=49
all FG: SG 23% (17-75), L/P 38% (18-48)
2-pt FG: SG 20% (11-55), L/P 51% (18-35)
3-pt FG: SG 30% (6-20), L/P 0% (0-13)
Free throws: SG 50% (16-32), L/P 54% (13-24); Rebounds: SG 41, L/P 41; Turnovers: SG 17, L/P 30; 2nd Chance points: SG 13, L/P 4; Fast break points: SG 8, L/P 32; Points in paint: SG 32, L/P 47; Greatest lead: SG 10, L/P 7; Fouls: SG 21, L/P 21
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. Sydney Holland 2P, 1R, 3A, 1S; Ava Olerud 2R, 1S; *Addyson McHugh 21P, 15R, 3A, 5; *Lydia Solum 7R, 2A, 2S, 1B; *Jordian Leahy 17P, 4R, 4S, 1B; *Emerson Ingvalson 14P, 6R, 2A, 5S; *Katelyn Kraus 2P, 6R, 1A, 1S
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>>B-TEAM: SG 16, L/P 31
>>SG 10 + 6=16
>>L/P 18+13=31
B-TEAM SCORING: Jordis Neeley 4, Hailie Kittleson 4, Ashlyn Hammel 3, Sydney Holland 2, Taylor Reinhardt 1, Kendal Van Minsel 1, Katie Klug 1
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at SG 23, Houston 63
Spring Grove scored 23 points, while Houston’s already two-time All-SEC Emma Geiwitz put up 27 points. The league-leading Hurricanes (11-0, 10-0 SEC) scored the first 14 points of the game while Spring Grove went scoreless for the first seven minutes, more due to turnovers than missed shots. The ‘Canes converted steals into 28 of their 36 fast break points.
On Senor Night at Spring Grove, the young Lions could not keep up with Houston’s talented senior and sophomore-dominated lineup.
The brightest spot for Spring Grove was hitting 10 of 15 free throws (67%) and being whistled for only seven fouls. However, with 39 turnovers, the Lions attempted too few shots and also suffered through 18% accuracy from the field. Five Lions scored with a team-high 8 points from McHugh.
Houston prevailed in both halves by 20 points, leading 35-15 at halftime before outscoring SG 28-8 during the run-rule-shortened second half.
all FG: SG 18% (6-33), Hou 45% (27-60)
2-pt FG: SG 21% (5-24), Hou 47% (25-53)
3-pt FG: SG 11% (1-9), Hou 29% (2-7)
Free throws: SG 67% (10-15), Hou 70% (7-10); Rebounds: SG 24, Hou 31; Turnovers: SG 39, Hou 18; 2nd Chance points: SG 3, Hou 7; Fast break points: SG 5, Hou 36; Points in paint: SG 15, Hou 53; Greatest lead: SG 0, Hou 41; Fouls: SG 7, Hou 16
SG INDIVIDUALS: Sydney Holland 3P, 1S; Ava Olerud no stats; *Addyson McHugh 8P, 4R, 1A, 1S, 2B; Mckenzie Fisch 1R; *Lydia Solum7R, 1A, 1S, 2B; *Erika Donlan no stats; *Jordian Leahy 3P, 1R, ; *Emerson Ingvalson 5P, 5R, 2A, 4S; Katelyn Kraus 4P, 6R, 1S, 1B
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>>B-TEAM: SG 8, Houston 48
>>SG 4 + 4 = 8
>>Hou 25+23=48
B-TEAM SCORING: Kendal Van Minsel 4, Hailie Kittleson 2, Ashlyn Hammel 2
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SG 24, at Southland 68
It was a reversal of accuracy for the Lions, who shot much better from the field overall (42%) and from 3-point range (36%) than the night before – but alas, also much worse at the foul line (a season-worst 0 for 8). Again, there were far too few shots because of far too many turnovers (33). It was no contest beneath the glass, where Spring Grove collected a season-low 14 rebounds.
Southland (8-7, 8-5 SEC) did not come in with as gaudy a record as did Houston, but it was a similar result. The Rebels scored 33 fast-break points while tallying 53 of their 68 points in the lane. Southland had 15 assists with only 11 turnovers.
The Lions hit their first two shots, but the 4-4 tie score was obliterated by a 31-0 Rebel scoring explosion. It was 48-9 at halftime. SG fared better in the run-rule second half, outscored only 20-15.
Both teams had balanced scoring, Ingvalson led the Lions with 9 points and 5 steals. SG was playing without the season’s leading scorer Jordian Leahy. Three Rebel seniors scored in double figures with two juniors adding 8 and 7 points. Larissa Goslee led with 17 points with Kelsey Mensink and Kayla Nelson each tallying 10.
It was the first Southeast Conference contest against Southland since the Rebels left the league 19 years ago. But Southland did prevail over the Lions in a non-conference game last winter.
>>SG 24, SHS 68
>>SG 9 + 15 = 24
>>SHS 48+20=68
all FG: SG 42% (10-24), SHS 48% (30-62)
2-pt FG: SG 46% (6-13), SHS 53% (27-51)
3-pt FG: SG 36% (4-11), SHS 27% (3-11)
Free throws: SG 0-% (0-8), SHS 50% (5-10); Rebounds: SG 14, SHS 32; Turnovers: SG 33, SHS 11; 2nd Chance points: SG 3, SHS 18; Fast break points: SG 0, SHS 32; Points in paint: SG 10, SHS 53; Greatest lead: SG 0, SHS 47; Fouls: SG 11, SHS 12
SG INDIVIDUALS: Sydney Holland 3P, 2R; *Ava Olerud 3P; Kendal Van Minsel 1R; *Addyson McHugh 5P, 4R, 1A, 4S, 1B; Mckenzie Fisch1R; *Lydia Solum 1S, 1B; Erika Donlan no stats; Jordian Leahy absent; *Emerson Ingvalson 9P, 1R, 2A, 5S; *Katelyn Kraus 4P, 5R, 1A, 2B
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>>SEC EAST DIVISION
Houston 10-0 SEC, 11-0 season
Randolph 9-1 SEC, 11-1 season
Lanesboro 8-6 SEC, 8-8 season
Mabel-Canton 4-9 SEC, 4-11 season
Spring Grove 3-9 SEC, 3-10 season
Schaeffer Aca. 0-12 SEC, 1-12 season
>>SEC WEST DIVISION
Kingsland 10-1 SEC, 12-2 season
Grand Meadow 7-4 SEC, 8-7 season
Southland 8-5 SEC, 8-7 season
LeRoy-Ostrander 5-7 SEC, 5-7 season
Lyle/Pacelli 2-12 SEC, 2-14 season
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Spring Grove Girls Basketball 2021. >>3 wins, 10 losses (3-9 SEC)
L vs. Grand Meadow 20-36
L at Rushford-Peterson 28-44
L at Mabel-Canton 31-34
W at Schaeffer Academy 47-39
01/28 Randolph, canceled
W vs. Schaeffer Academy 41-37
L at Randolph 25-65
L vs. Mabel-Canton 30-41
L vs. Lanesboro 45-66
L at Lanesboro 38-53
L at LeRoy-Ostrander 47-65
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli 56-49
L vs Houston 23-63
L at Southland 24-68
03/11 at Houston
03/12 at Kingsland
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B-team Girls Basketball 2021 >>0 wins, 6 losses
L vs. Grand Meadow 12-50
L at Rushford-Peterson14-36
L at Randolph 8-43
L vs. Mabel-Canton 17-40
L vs. Lyle/Pacelli 16-31
L vs. Houston 8-48
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8th Grade Girls Basketball 2021 >>4 wins, 1 loss
L vs Houston 13-34
W vs. Mabel-Canton 25-17
W vs. Randolph 27-26
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 29-16
W at Mabel-Canton 37-24
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7th Grade Girls Basketball 2021 >>2 wins, 3 losses
W at Schaeffer 28-26
L vs. Houston 10-22
L vs Schaeffer 16-22
L vs. Randolph 17-23
W at LeRoy-Ostrander 28-18