Girls basketball roundup: The 'D' shows up for NLS
Feb. 2—NEW LONDON — New London-Spicer's defense showed up in a big way to help the Wildcats dominate Montevideo on Thursday at New London.
The Wildcats, utilizing a full-court press and a 2-3 zone defense, held the Thunder Hawks to nine points in the second half en route to a 64-29 victory.
Montevideo and NLS both compete in Section 3AA-North. The Thunder Hawks rank No. 11 in Class AA and there's a possibility of the two teams meeting in the postseason.
"We played very good defense the whole game. The girls came very determined and ready to play. They performed at a much more consistent level than they have," NLS head coach Mike Dreier said of his Wildcats, who rank No. 2 in Class AA. "It was a really good game for us. We will probably see Montevideo again and they are a much better team than what they showed tonight."
Thunder Hawks senior post Avery Koenen helped the Thunder Hawks get out to an early lead, but the Wildcats' offense responded quickly with its ability to shoot from beyond the arc.
NLS' first three baskets were from 3-point land. Sophomore guard Dakota Rich hit the first two and junior forward Delaney Hanson hit the third.
The duo did not stop there, Dakota Rich finished with 18 points with five 3-pointers and Hanson had 14 points with four 3-pointers.
"That's the thing with our kids, we have enough that can make (baskets)," Dreier said. "We have been getting a lot of rewards from that so far."It was from then on that NLS' scrappy defense made it difficult for Montevideo's offense to get into a rhythm, causing turnovers and steals.
"The turnovers did us in tonight," Montevideo head coach Anthony Jackson said. "The turnovers let them play fast. ... Their full-court pressure gave us some trouble tonight."
NLS (18-0) held Koenen, who is committed to Division I North Dakota State University, to 17 points, including three in the second half.
"They know she's a key part of our offense," Jackson said. "We need to make shots around her to open it up for her."
Montevideo senior wing Tenley Epema notched nine points on three 3-pointers, two of which came early in the second half to help the Thunder Hawks cut their deficit to five.
But the Wildcats quickly regained control of the tempo en route to their commanding victory.
"It was really a great team win," Dreier said. "When you have a group of kids that when they put in everything they can, good things happen. Tonight was one of those nights."
Montevideo plays BOLD at 7:15 p.m. Friday at Montevideo. NLS plays Rockford at 7 p.m. Friday at New London.
Montevideo (14-3) 20 9 — 29
NLS (18-0) 29 45 — 64
MONTEVIDEO — Scoring: Tenley Epema 9, Avery Koenen 17, Hailey Dirksen 3 ... 3-point shots: Epema 3, Dirksen 1 ... Rebound leader: n/a ... Assist leader: n/a ... Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a
NLS — Scoring: Ayla Caskey 4, Jaden Coahran 8, Avery Rich 13, Ava Carlson 5, Dakota Rich 18, Miller Holland 2, Delaney Hanson 14 ... 3-point shots: D. Rich 5, Hanson 4 ... Rebound leaders: Coahran 6, Hanson 4, Carlson 4 ... Assist leaders: D. Rich 8, A. Rich 4, Coahran 3 ... Steal leader: A. Rich 6, Coahran 4, D. Rich 3 ... Block leader: none
Kaia Gack scored a layup with 21 seconds remaining to ice a Central Lakes Conference victory for Sartell in the Big Red Gym at Willmar High School.
Moments before, the Cardinals made it a one-point game after Zoe Schroeder scored in the post. Gack made a break for the basket and was wide open for the insurance score.
Willmar had one last chance with 1.1 seconds left, only for a Sabres defender to knock the ball away on the inbounds pass.
Telilie Lange was Willmar's top scorer with 16 points. Brielle Ogdahl followed up with 10 points. Allie Rosendahl and Kenedee Salonek both had eight.
The Cardinals are last in the CLC with a 2-7 record. Sartell is second in the CLC at 9-1.
Willmar plays Morris/Chokio-Alberta at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Morris.
Sartell (14-4) 24 32 — 56
Willmar (4-15) 32 21 — 53
SARTELL — Stats not available
WILLMAR — Scoring: Telilie Lange 16, Brielle Ogdahl 10, Allie Rosendahl 8, Kenedee Salonek 8, Zoe Schroeder 6, Lyza Gustafson 5 ... 3-point shots: Lange 2, Rosendahl 2, Salonek 2 ... Rebound leader: Schroeder 8 ... Assist leader: Lange 3, Rosendahl 3, Hodges 3 ... Steal leader: Schroeder 3 ... Block leader: Ogdahl 1, Rosendahl 1
Eighth-ranked (Class A) BOLD left Melrose with a West Central Conference win.
The Warriors move to 7-1 in the West Central. BOLD is now 9-1 in 2023.
BOLD plays Montevideo at 7:15 p.m. Friday at Montevideo.
BOLD (15-3) 28 30 — 58
Melrose (3-15) 21 21 — 42
BOLD — Stats not available
MELROSE — Scoring: Shantel Gruber 13, Kaydence Bertram 10, Eleanor Heller 6, Jenna Finken 6, Courntey Revering 3, Madelyn Kuechle 2, Avery Birch 2 ... 3-point shots: Heller 2, Finken 2, Bertram 1, Gruber 1, Revering 1 ... Rebound leader: Bertram 9 ... Assist leader: Jaenicke 3 ... Steal leader: Bertram 4 ... Block leader: Gruber 2
Minnewaska knocked off 13th-ranked (Class AA) Sauk Centre for a West Central Conference win at Sauk Centre.
The Lakers improve to 6-12 overall while the Mainstreeters drop to 13-5.
Minnewaska plays Redwood Valley at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Glenwood.
Kylie Michels had 18 points, five rebounds and seven steals to help lead Litchfield to the victory over Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted at Litchfield.
Izzy Pennertz added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Ryanna Steinhaus scored 10 points with nine assists and six steals for the Dragons.
Ivy Fasching scored 10 points to lead the Lakers.
Litchfield plays Albany in the Winter Lakes Classic at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Alexandria.
HLWW (8-16) 13 10 — 23
Litchfield (9-9) 41 26 — 67
HLWW — Scoring: A. Bloch 4, Ivy Fasching 10, E. Bobrowske 5, E. Holmes 3, S. Streachele 1 ... 3-point shots: Bloch 1, Fasching 1, Bobrowske 1, Holmes 1 ... Rebound leader: n/a ... Assist leader: n/a ... Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a
LITCHFIELD — Scoring: Adalia Brunning 7, Ryanna Steinhaus 10, Kylie Michels 18, Shelby Dengerud 4, Greta Hansen 7, Addy Lundeen 2, Izzy Pennertz 13, Morgan Falling 6 ... 3-point shots: Brunning 2, Michels 1, Hansen 1 ... Rebound leaders: Pennertz 10, Michels 5 ... Assist leader: Steinhaus 9 ... Steal leaders: Michels 7, Steinhaus 6 ... Block leader: none
Hannah Stark scored her 1,000th career point in Yellow Medicine East's loss at Tracy.
The Sting had three scorers in the double figures. Hope Stark led with 13. Bayli Sneller and Ella Cherveny had 12 and 10.
YME plays Ortonville at 6 p.m. Friday at Granite Falls.
YME (7-10) 23 31 — 54
TMB (11-7) 30 33 — 63
YME — Scoring: Hope Stark 13, Bayli Sneller 12, Ella Cherveny 10, Hannah Stark 8, Ruby Bones 7, Gracie Kleven 4 ... 3-point shots: Sneller 4, Ha. Stark 2, Ho. Stark 2 ... Rebound leader: Ha. Stark 15 ... Assist leaders: Ho. Stark 2, Ha. Stark 2 ... Steal leaders: Ho. Stark 2, Ha. Stark 2 ... Block leader: Bones 2
TMB — Scoring: Jordan Munson 19, Grace Dolan 13, Kyli Carter 11, Jaelynn Carter 6, Emma Edwards 6, Hailey Gernentz 5, Elizabeth Fultz 3 ... 3-point shots: Munson 4, Dolan 3, Gernentz 1, K. Carter 1, Fultz 1 ... Rebound leader: n/a ... Assist leader: n/a ... Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a
Lac qui Parle Valley remains unbeaten in the Camden Conference North Division after beating MACCRAY in Madison.
The 18th-ranked (Class A) Eagles got 14 points and 12 rebounds from Camryn Lee. Taylor Shelstad followed with 13 points and six assists.
Emma Thein scored a game-high 19 points for the Wolverines. Brielle Janssen followed up with 13.
LQPV plays Pipestone at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Madison. MACCRAY plays Dawson-Boyd at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Dawson.
MACCRAY (12-8) 15 20 — 35
LQPV (16-3) 26 26 — 52
MACCRAY — Scoring: Emma Thein 19, Brielle Janssen 13, Sydney Thein 2, Ella Kientiz 1 ... 3-point shots: E. Thein 3 ... Rebound leaders: Janssen 9, E. Thein 8 ... Assist leader: S. Thein 5 ... Steal leader: Janssen 6 ... Block leader: E. Thein 1, Janssen 1
LQPV — Scoring: Rylee Lund 11, Ayanna Gipson 9, Isabel Gerdes 5, Taylor Shelstad 13, Camryn Lee 14 ... 3-point shots: Lund 3, Gerdes 1, Shelstad 1 ... Rebound leader: C. Lee 12 ... Assist leader: Shelstad 6 ... Steal leader: Lund 3 ... Block leader: C. Lee 2
Central Minnesota Christian extended its win streak to four games at Dawson.
Sienna Duininck and Carrie Mulder both had 15 points for the Bluejays, who have won seven of their last nine games.
Dawson-Boyd's Kate Dahl notched a game-best 19 points. She made three 3-pointers.
CMCS plays Ortonville at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Ortonville. Dawson-Boyd plays Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dawson.
CMCS (8-11) 18 42 — 60
Dawson-Boyd (6-12) 13 30 — 43
CMCS — Scoring: Carrie Mulder 15, Sienna Duininck 15, Lauren Taatjes 12, CC Roiseland 9, Peighton Mulder 5, Carene Jean-Louis 2, Natasha Erickson 2 ... 3-point shots: Duininck 3, Roiseland 3, Mulder 1 ... Rebound leader: C. Mulder 8 ... Assist leader: Duininck 4 ... Steal leader: C. Mulder 5 ... Block leaders: Taatjes 1, Duininck 1
DAWSON-BOYD — Scoring: Kate Dahl 19, Allison Estling 10, Hayley Anderson 6, Chelsie Husby 4, Alyssa Swedzinski 3, Ayiana Hastad 2 ... 3-point shots: Dahl 3, Estling 2, Husby 1, Swedzinski 1 ... Rebound leader: Anderson 9 ... Assist leader: Husby 1 ... Steal leader: Dahl 3, Estling 3 ... Block leader: Anderson 1
Acelynn Hacker had 19 points, six rebounds and 10 steals to lead Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg past Renville County West at Renville.
Mamie Luft added 13 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Fighting Saints. Maddie Luft chipped in with 11 points, nine rebounds, three steals and four blocked shots.
Shelby Allex led the Jaguars with 10 points.
KMS plays Lac qui Parle Valley at 6 p.m. Monday at Kerkhoven. RCW plays Central Minnesota Christian at 6 p.m. Monday at Prinsburg.
KMS (16-4) 23 31 — 54
RCW (6-14) 17 15 — 32
KMS — Scoring: Acelynn Hacker 19, Julia Carlson 1, Anissa Demuth 2, Mamie Luft 13, Sophia Oerter 8, Maddie Luft 11 ... 3-point shots: Hacker 2 ... Rebound leaders: Hacker 6, Mam. Luft 7, Mad. Luft 9 ... Assist leaders: Hacker 2, Oerter 2 ... Steal leaders: Hacker 10, Mam. Luft 6, Mad. Luft 3 ... Block leaders: Mad. Luft. 4, Mam. Luft 3
RCW — Scoring: Holly Hinderks 4, Johanna Braun 2, Breana Winzenburg 2, Rachel Jakel 1, Shelby Allex 10, Laila Ridler 7, Emily Lippert 4, Avery Roxberg 2 ... 3-point shots: Allex 2, Lippert 1 ... Rebound leaders: Ridler 8, Lippert 6, Braun 5 ... Assist leaders: Braun 2, Lipper 2 ... Steal leaders: Braun 4, Ridler 3 ... Block leaders: Roxberg 3, Braun 2
