The 2023 Spring Grove boys (30-1) became the only Lions to win 30 games, but they had to hang on – again late – to turn away Mankato Loyola, 39-38, in the Class A State Tournament quarterfinals on March 22 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Loyola cut an 11-point deficit down to two (39-37) with a chance to pull even with a pair of free throws with only nine seconds remaining. The first free throw rimmed away before the second one found the net. The Lions still led by one. The Crusaders (22-9) had to foul twice before sending a Lion to the foul line with only 3.8 seconds to play. The Spring Grove free throw did miss, but Loyola had time only for a desperation, three-quarter-court heave as time expired.
Photo by Lee Epps
After nursing narrow leads almost all game, Spring Grove used an 11-to-2 run to lead 34-23 with 7:20 to play. An Elijah Solum driving score made the Lion lead 36-26, but Spring Grove would add only one more basket during the final frantic six-and-half minutes. That fast-break 3-pointer by Caleb Griffin (Solum assist) was the lone Lion shot attempted amid five late Lion turnovers as Loyola began to defend full-court with 3:44 to go.
Loyola coach Sam Carlson said he knew his team would not quit fighting when they faced a late double-digit deficit, but thought he may have waited too long before pressing full-court. The Crusaders had hit only 3 of 12 shots from 3-point land until drilling 3 of 6 during the last four minutes.
Carlson had plenty of praise for the vaunted Lion defense. “I told the guys, their zone is so good, you’re going to have turnovers. They’re just so good at it. We haven’t faced a zone close to that all year. It’s impressive what they do.”
Lion mentor Wade Grinde agreed, “We have a saying, defense travels. And we bring that to every game, so that’s definitely kept us in there.”
Like all Lion opponents, the Crusaders had to work long and hard to get a shot. They attempted 18 shots beyond the 3-point arc and 20 shots closer in (including two on which they were fouled). Loyola shot 39% from the field to the Lions’ 45%. However, the difference in the scorebook was one free throw. Spring Grove hit 5 of 7 foul shots, Loyola 4 of 7. Both teams scored 34 points from the field.
But the Loyola defense was stingy as well. The Crusaders scored only 14 points in the first half, but Spring Grove tallied only 17 before the break. It was Grove’s fourth straight playoff game in which the opponent scored first before the Lions soon leapt ahead and played with the lead almost all game.
Solum scored the Lions’ first seven points and with 16 total points (7 for 13 shooting), was the lone player in the game to reach double digits. The consistent part of the attack was Solum’s ability to penetrate with the dribble and finish at the rim or with a short jump shot. He accounted for 13 of the team’s 19 dribble-drive points.
Griffin helped with 9 points, Jaxon Strinmoen added 5 points and game-highs with 7 rebounds and 3 steals. With two early fouls, Tysen Grinde sat out nearly 10 minutes of the first half and finished with 4 points and 6 rebounds.
For Loyola, Lawson Godfrey and Jake Sizer each had 9 points and Simon Morgan 8. The Crusaders started five seniors with one junior coming off the bench.
The 13 Crusader turnovers was a slight improvement from the 15 they committed when they lost to Spring Grove, 61-54, on a neutral court back in early January. The departure came on the other end of the floor. Spring Grove had only six turnovers in that first game and had six before halftime of the state tournament rematch. The Lions improved with only one lost possession through their first 16 possessions after intermission before hanging on through five turnovers during six possessions down the stretch.
It was eerily similar to the preceding game in the section finals when the Lions lost an even greater lead before regaining their composure just in time. “That’s a testament to these guys and their character,” said Coach Grinde. “It might have looked bad there for a while, but they were able to hang in there.”
It was the second quarterfinal win with 39 points this playoff season for these Lions, who defeated Randolph 39-24 in the section quarterfinals.
Spring Grove advanced to the state semi-finals to face New Life Academy (25-5) of Woodbury, which defeated Sacred Heart (East Grand Forks) 62-46. All top four seeds won their quarterfinal matchups, including No. 1 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (29-1) and No. 4 Cherry (27-4).
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SG 39, ML 38
SCORE by HALVES
SG 17+22=39
ML 14+24=38
TEAM TOTALS:
all FG: SG 45% (15-33), ML 39% (14-36)
2-pt FG: SG 48% (11-23), ML 44%% (8-18)
3-pt FG: SG 40% (4-10), ML 33% (6-18)
Free throws: SG 71% (5-7), ML 57% (4-7); Rebounds: SG 20, ML 20; Turnovers: SG 11, ML 13; 2nd Chance pts: SG 2, ML 11; Fast break pts: SG 3, ML 10; Pts. in paint: SG 25, ML 16; Greatest lead: SG 11, ML 3; Fouls: SG 10, ML 11
SG INDIVIDUALS: P-points, R rebounds, A-assists, S-steals, B-blocked shots. Listed in order of jersey number. * starter. *Caleb Griffin 9P, 2A, 2S; *Tysen Grinde 6P, 1A, 1S; Hunter Holland no stats; *Ethan Crouch 3P, 1R, 2A, 1S, 1B; Jacob Olerud 2P, 4R, 1A, 2S; *Jaxon Strinmoen 5P, 7R, 3S, 1B; *Elijah Solum 16P, 2R, 1A, 1B
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