Girls basketball roundup: Defense makes a difference for BBE

BELGRADE — The shots weren’t falling for either Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa or Sauk Centre over the final seven minutes of their non-conference showdown at BBE High School.

That was just fine by the Jaguars. Their defense was stout in beating the 13th-ranked team in Class AA 46-41 Friday in a battle of bordering Stearns County teams.

“At one point, I looked at my assistant and said ‘What is going on?’” said BBE head coach Kristina Anderson. “We were getting great looks.

“Credit to our girls. They kept coming down on the defensive end and just battling.”

On both ends of the floor, the Jaguars showed no fear against the Mainstreeters’ pair of posts in 6-foot senior Jenna Gapinski-Vogt and 6-3 sophomore Victoria Jennissen. The guards focused on limiting passes to the inside. A rotation of players, led by senior Allison Dingmann and junior Brooklyn Fischer, kept Gapinski-Vogt and Jennissen from getting uncontested shots.

“We don’t see size like that with teams we play,” Anderson said. “Credit to our girls that were rotating in. We knew we had to be physical early and apply great wing pressure so it wasn’t an easy entry pass. Then when the ball did get entered, our post played strong, walled up and then did a good job of turning and boxing out.”

Led by senior guard Abby Berge, seventh-ranked (Class A) BBE built a 32-25 halftime lead. The Minnesota State-Moorhead commit finished with a game-high 21 points along with nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.

That first-half edge was needed as the Jaguars scored just three field goals in the second half. The final field goal came on a Dingmann layup with 8:55 to go.

But, Sauk Centre was in a similar conundrum with two field goals over the final seven minutes.

“At one point, I looked at my assistant and said ‘What is going on,’” Anderson said of the scoring drought. “We were getting great looks.

“ To hold that team for that long, it was huge,” Anderson said.

Jennissen made it a three-point game with 1:18 to play. But in the final minute, Harley Roering and Berge went a combined 4-for-4 from the free-throw line to ice the game.

The two teams played in front of a packed house with fans standing along the corners of the floor. It was also Hoops For Hope Night at BBE, with money being raised for cancer research through the V Foundation.

BBE plays Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City at 7 p.m. Friday at Grove City.

Sauk Centre (12-4)      25  16 — 41
BBE (13-3)         32  14 — 46
SAUK CENTRE - Stats not available
BBE - Scoring: Abby Berge 21, Allison Dingmann 9, Harley Roering 4, Brooklyn Fischer 4, Anna Jaeger 3, Tiyana Schwinghammer 3, Ella Halvorson 2 … 3-point shots: Jaeger 1 … Rebound leaders: Berge 9, Schwinghammer 8 … Assist leader: Berge 3 … Steal leaders: Schwinghammer 4, Berge 4 ... Block leader: Dingmann 1

Alexandria shot 50% from the field and helped force Willmar to turn the ball over 25 times at Alexandria.

Willmar’s leading scorers were Brielle Ogdahl and Allie Rosendahl. Both had 11 points.

The Cardinals are 2-6 in the Central Lakes. Alexandria is 10-0.

Willmar plays at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at New Ulm.

Willmar (4-12)            33   21 — 54
Alexandria (14-3)       42   35 — 77
WILLMAR - Scoring: Brielle Ogdahl 11, Allie Rosendahl 11, Kenedee Salonek 9, Zoe Schroeder 7, Maycee Gustafson 6, Telilie Lange 6, Lyza Gustafson 4 … 3-point shots: Salonek 2, Schroeder 1 … Rebound leader: Ogdahl 8 … Assist leader: Schroeder 5 … Steal leader: M. Gustafson 2, Schroeder 2 ... Block leader: Ogdahl 1, Schroeder 1
ALEXANDRIA - Scoring: Hadley Thul 12, Chloe Scholl 19, MaCee Linow 17, Kaia Emter 6, Allie Haabala 11, Kate Hennessy 9, McKinley Hebder 3 … 3-point shots: Scholl 1, Linow 4, Emter 2, Haabala 3, Hebder 1 … Rebound leader: n/a … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a

New London-Spicer fought off Litchfield to remain 16-0 this season at Litchfield. NLS, ranked No. 2 in Class AA, got a game-best 16 points from Avery Rich. Jaden Coahran added 14 and Dakota Rich had 11.

Litchfield’s top-scorer was Ryanna Steinhaus. Nine of her 11 points came from beyond the arc.

NLS is 7-0 in the Wright County. Litchfield is 2-4.

Litchfield plays at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Rockford. NLS plays Watertown-Mayer at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Watertown.

NLS (16-0)              27   22 — 49
Litchfield (7-9)       18   19 — 37
NLS - Scoring: Jaden Coahran 14, Avery Rich 16, Ava Carlson 5, Dakota Rich 11, Delaney Hanson 3 … 3-point shots: Coahran 2, A. Rich 2, D. Rich 3, Hanson 1 … Rebound leader: Carlson 9, Coahran 8, Hanson 6 … Assist leader: A. Rich 3, Coahran 3 … Steal leader: D. Rich 6, A. Rich 4, Hanson 4, Coahran 3 ... Block leader: Kaylee Thorson 1
LITCHFIELD - Scoring: Ryanna Steinhaus 11, Kylie Michels 6, Greta Hansen 8, Izzy Pennertz 12 … 3-point shots: Steinhaus 3, Michels 2 … Rebound leaders: Hansen 8, Steinhaus 6 … Assist leader: Morgan Falling 7 … Steal leader: Steinhaus 2, Hansen 2 ... Block leader: Hansen 3 

Lainey Braulick fueled BOLD to victory over Minnewaska with a 27-point performance at Olivia.

BOLD, which ranks No. 8 in Class A, is 6-1 in the West Central. Minnewaska is 2-4.

Minnewaska’s Brooke Kolstoe had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Megan Thorfinnson led the Lakers with 14 points.

BOLD plays Renville County West at 4 p.m. Saturday at Olivia. Minnewaska plays Montevideo at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at Glenwood.

Minnewaska (5-11)       22   23 — 45
BOLD (13-3)                  42   18 — 60
MINNEWASKA - Scoring: Megan Thorfinnson 14, Brooke Kolstoe 12, Sydney Dahl 11, Avery Fier 3, Leslie Murken 3, Lauryn Ankeny 2 … 3-point shots: Thorfinnson 2, Murken 1, Fier 1 … Rebound leader: Kolstoe 10 … Assist leader: Dahl 3 … Steal leader: Kolstoe 2, Thorfinnson 2 ... Block leader: Dahl 4
BOLD - Scoring: Lainey Braulick 27, Mari Ryberg 13, Kenzie Visser 12, Lily Dean 4, Anna Moorse 2, Rylee Boen 2 … 3-point shots: Braulick 4 … Rebound leader: Ryberg 10 … Assist leader: Ryberg 5 … Steal leader: Braulick 5 ... Block leader: Visser 3 

Avery Koenen poured in 33 points and Hailey Dirksen added 19 points in Montevideo’s home victory over the Knights.

Montevideo is ranked 11th in Class AA.

“We got off to a good start and then kind of hung on,” Montevideo head coach Anthony Jackson said.

Macy Grosz led West Central with 18 points, Addison Staples added 15 and Mya Foslien contributed 14.

Montevideo, 5-0 in the West Central Conference, next plays Minnewaska at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at Glenwood.

West Central (7-9)       24   38 — 62
Montevideo (13-2)       36   34 — 70
WEST CENTRAL - Scoring: Macy Grosz 18, Mya Foslien 14, Maya Krusemark 5, Jayden Styba 2, Addison Staples 15, Claire Stark 8  … 3-point shots: Grosz 3, Foslien 3, Krusemark 1, Staples 3 … Rebound leader: n/a … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a
MONTEVIDEO - Scoring: Teagan Epema 5, Taylor Viessman 4, Tenley Epema 9, Avery Koenen 33, Hailey Dirksen 19 … 3-point shots: Tea. Epema 1, Ten. Epema 1, Koenen 4, Dirksen 3 … Rebound leaders: n/a … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a

Acelynn Hacker helped Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg extend its winning streak to five games at Clara City.

Hacker scored a game-best 30 points and notched nine steals.

Brielle Janssen led the Wolverines with 18 points. She notched a double-double, adding 13 rebounds.

KMS is 7-1 in the Camden North. MACCRAY is 4-4.

KMS plays CMCS at 6 p.m. Monday at Kerkhoven. MACCRAY plays Renville County West at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Renville.

KMS (15-3)                23   37 — 60
MACCRAY (11-7)      21   16 — 37
KMS - Scoring: Acelynn Hacker 30, Madelynn Luft 13, Josie Gjerde 12, Mamie Luft 4, Sophia Oerter 1 … 3-point shots: Hacker 3, J. Gjerde 2, Madelynn Luft 2 … Rebound leader: Mamie Luft 8 … Assist leader: Hacker 2, Madelynn Luft 2 … Steal leader: Hacker 9 ... Block leader: Madelynn Luft 5 
MACCRAY - Scoring: Brielle Janssen 18, Annie Bourne 6, Sydney Thein 5, Ella Kienitz 3, Lily Hultgren 3, Emma Thein 2 … 3-point shots: Kienitz 1, S. Thein 1, Janssen 1 … Rebound leader: Janssen 13 … Assist leader: Bourne 2 … Steal leader: Bourne 6 ... Block leader: Janssen 2

Ireland Stassen and Grace Hennen helped Minneota remain undefeated in the Camden South with a dominating win over Yellow Medicine East at Granite Falls.

Stassen led the Vikings with 18 points. Hennen added 16.

Ruby Bones led the Sting in scoring. She had eight points and a team-high three assists.

YME plays Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at 6 p.m. Monday at Granite Falls.

Minneota (12-4)      29   38 — 67
YME (6-9)                15   15 — 30
MINNEOTA - Scoring: Ireland Stassen 18, Grace Hennen 16, Kenadi Arndt 8, Kiersyn Hulzebos 7, Faith Myhre 6, Ella Johnson 4, Dakoda Hennen 4, Nevaeh Hennen 3, Hadli Krog 1 … 3-point shots: G. Hennen 3, Stassen 2, Hulzebos 2, N. Hennen 1, Myhre 1 … Rebound leader: n/a … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a 
YME - Scoring: Ruby Bones 8, Hannah Stark 7, Hope Stark 6, Stella Schuler 5, Ella Cherveny 2, Gracie Kleven 2 … 3-point shots: Hope Stark 2, Schuler 1 … Rebound leader: Hannah Stark 5 … Assist leader: Bones 3 … Steal leader: Hope Stark 5 ... Block leader: three players with 1 

Lexi Nelson scored 15 points and Sophia Bollig had 13 as Community Christian School fell to Rochester Home Schools at Immanuel Lutheran School in Mankato.

Bollig led the Eagles with 15 rebounds and two blocks. Hope Reid contributed seven points and added 10 rebounds.

CCS plays Immanuel Lutheran at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Willmar.

CCS                         27   18 — 45
Rochester Home       27   23 — 50
CCS - Scoring: Lexi Nelson 15, Sophia Bollig 13, Hope Reid 7, Gabbie Bollig 3, Grace Strom 3, Anna Lindgren 2, Margo Klaassen 2 … 3-point shots: Nelson 1, Reid 1, G. Bollig 1, Strom 1 … Rebound leaders: S. Bollig 15, Reid 10 … Assist leader: G. Bollig 4 … Steal leader: G. Bollig 3 ... Block leader: S. Bollig 2 
ROCHESTER HOME - Stats not available