Girls Basketball: NLS girls steamroll Sauk Centre, 51-29
COLLEGEVILLE -- It's been New London-Spicer's method of operation all year.
Get out to a fast start, break your opponent's will and then remain steady through the second half for the victory.
That plan of attack led the Wildcats to a Section 6AA-North girls basketball title Wednesday, beating Sauk Centre 51-29. NLS (28-1) will play Osakis for the Section 6AA crown at 9 p.m. Friday at St. Cloud State's Halenbeck Hall.
The Wildcats' 2-3 zone was too tough for the Mainstreeters to penetrate. Add to that trapping pressure at the half-court line, and NLS held a 28-10 halftime lead.
"We played really good defense in the first half," said NLS coach Mike Dreier. "We didn't give them the chance to have many three-point looks."
In fact, Sauk Centre shot just seven percent (1 for 14) from three-point range, while the Wildcats sank three treys in the first half and finished 44 percent (7 of 16) from behind the arc.
Once again, not one Wildcat scorer stood out. Brianna Jacobson led the way with 10 points, followed by Cassie Ziemer with nine and Taylor Thompsen with eight. Ziemer grabbed seven boards, Dammerman had five assists and Abbey Knisely blocked five shots.
Kali Peschel was held to 10 points for Sauk Centre. Savana Weller scored nine points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
New London-Spicer 51, Sauk Centre 29
Sauk Centre (25-3) 10 19 -- 29
NL-Spicer (28-1) 28 23 -- 51
SAUK CENTRE - 10-44 FG (1-14 3-pt); 8-11 FT; 35 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Megan Rieland 2, Maren Greenwaldt 3, Kali Peschel 10, Savana Weller 9, Steph Anderson 2, Kayla VonWahlde 2, Kourtney Nelson 1 ... 3-point shots: Greenwaldt 1 ... Rebound leaders: Weller 12 ... Assist leaders: Lindsey Rieland 2 ... Steal leaders: Rieland 4
NEW LONDON-SPICER - 17-46 FG (7-16 3-pt); 10-16 FT; 33 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Taylor Thompsen 8, Justine Dammermann 5, Cassie Ziemer 9, Karli Wendlandt 4, Brianna Jacobson 10, Amanda Radel 3, Michele Hanson 7, Abbey Knisely 5 ... 3-point shots: Thompsen 2, Radel 1, Dammermann 1, Ziemer 3 ... Rebound leaders: Ziemer 7, Jacobson 5, Wendlandt 5, Hanson 5 ... Assist leaders: Dammermann 5 ... Steal leaders: Kelsey Cors 3 ... Blocks: Knisely 5
