Prep girls basketball: No milestone just yet for NLS head coach

NEW LONDON — Litchfield’s Eric Hulterstrum, who is in his first year as head girls basketball coach, earned his own milestone victory Tuesday night at New London-Spicer High School.

“Thanks for showing up for my 13th win,” he said with a big grin after the Dragons beat the Wildcats, 37-25.

Litchfield’s victory denied NLS head coach Mike Dreier from earning his 1,000th career win.

The legendary Wildcats coach goes for the milestone again at 7 p.m. Friday in New London against Watertown-Mayer, another top Wright County Conference opponent.

“He’s going to get his 1,000th win, no doubt about it,” Hulterstrum said. “I’m just happy it wasn’t tonight.”

On a night when Twin Cities media made their way to New London, Litchfield stuck with its game plan throughout, never letting NLS back into the game after an early run in the second half that opened up its double-digit advantage.

The Dragons were disciplined in their half-court offense and didn’t get rattled when the Wildcats turned up the heat defensively in the second half with a half-court trap and a full-court press that turned out to be short-lived.

“That wasn’t the finest game I’ve been a part of,” said Dreier, who has a 999-185 career record in 44 seasons at NLS. “They (the Dragons) out-played us in every way.

“Give them the credit.”

NLS started slowly. The Wildcats made their first field goal at 7:34 on a layup by Avery Rich. NLS tied it at 9-9 when Delaney Hanson sank a 3-pointer, but Litchfield quickly regained the lead, opening up a 15-9 advantage on a Greta Hansen 3-pointer at 4:04. That completed a 6-0 mini run.

It was 15-13 Litchfield at halftime. NLS senior forward Izzy Schmiesing sank a 3-pointer at 17:36 of the second half to give the Wildcats a 16-15 lead. But the Dragons then went on a 12-0 run and never looked back.

Junior guard Kyle Michels and Hansen each had 11 points to lead Litchfield, which sank six 3-pointers to NLS’ three treys.

“We aren’t a very good shooting team right now,” said Dreier, who greeted well-wishers and alumni afterward.

The loss ended a 36-game winning streak in the Wright County Conference for the Wildcats, who last lost to Litchfield on Feb. 28, 2019. That was 41-38 in a Section 3AA playoff game played in Willmar.

“I was at that game,” Hulterstrum said. “I was coaching at Benson at the time. It was a good one for (Litchfield).”

Litchfield stays on the road Friday for a 7 p.m. game at Rockford.

LITCHFIELD - Scoring: Ryanna Steinhaus 7, Kylie Michels 11, Greta Hansen 11, Izzy Pennertz 8, Maggie Boerema 2 … 3-point shots: Steinhaus 2, Michels 3, Hansen 1 … Rebound leader: Hansen 9, Pennertz 8 … Assist leader: Morgan Falling 3 … Steal leader: Michels 2 ... Block leader: Boerema 1, Hansen 1

NEW LONDON-SPICER - Scoring: Jaden Coahran 4, Avery Rich 8, Izzy Schmiesing 4, Ellary Peterson 2, Dakota Rich 2, Delaney Hanson 5 … 3-point shots: A. Rich 1, Schmiesing 1, Hanson 1 … Rebound leader: Schmiesing 6, Coahran 5, Peterson 5 … Assist leader: Coahran 2 … Steal leader: Schmiesing 3 ... Block leader: Schmiesing 1, Peterson 1

Up by just one at halftime, Brainerd outscored Willmar 32-15 after halftime to secure a Central Lakes Conference victory at Brainerd.

“Rough second half tonight,” said Cardinals head coach Dustin Carlson. “We tried to play a slow game with them but that turned into slow close-outs. They hit the shots and we didn’t. Bummer to have a chance to compete for a conference championship but not show up to play with our normal enthusiasm.

“We will find a way to bounce back.”

The Warriors’ Meghan Smith led all scorers with 21 points, followed by 10 apiece by teammates Myah Nelson and Olivia Tautges.

Ellary Lange was the lone Willmar player in double figures with 10 points. Jaida Reiman tallied eight points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.

The Cardinals are at home Friday against Alexandria. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

WILLMAR - Scoring: Telilie Lange 2, Brielle Ogdahl 6, Ellary Lange 10, Jaida Reiman 8, Ella Shinn 2, Adia Laidlaw 2 … 3-point shots: E. Lange 2 … Rebound leader: Reiman 5 … Assist leader: Grace Haugen 2, Shinn 2 … Steal leader: Reiman 2 ... Block leader: T. Lange 1 

BRAINERD - Scoring: Myah Nelson 10, Meghan Smith 21, Mya Tautges 2, Olivia Tautges 10, AJ Johnson 2, Kylie Johnson 3 … 3-point shots: Nelson 1, Smith 3, O. Tautges 3, Johnson 1 … Rebound leader: n/a … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a

Mari Ryberg had 22 points, 10 rebounds and four steals as BOLD prevailed at Morris/Chokio-Alberta.

The Warriors trailed 27-25 at halftime.

Lainey Braulick added 17 points and three steals and Leslie Snow had 10 points and five assists for BOLD.

Maddy Grove scored 25 points to lead the Tigers.

BOLD will play Montevideo at 6 p.m. Friday at Bird Island.

BOLD - Scoring: Lainey Braulick 17, Mari Ryberg 22, Leslie Snow 10, Abby Meyers 4, Lidia Plass 2, Anna Moorse 1  … 3-point shots: Braulick 1 … Rebound leader: Ryberg 10, Meyers 7 … Assist leader: Snow 5 … Steal leader: Ryberg 4, Braulick 3 ... Block leader: Meyers 2 

MORRIS/CHOKIO-ALBERTA - Scoring: Meredith Carrington 8, Maddy Grove 25, Cate Kehoe 3, Sydney Dietz 3, Kaylee Halstad 6 … 3-point shots: Carrington 2, Grove 1. 

Sydney Dahl had 12 points for Minnewaska in a West Central Conference loss to Sauk Centre at Glenwood.

Maddie Thorfinson added 11 points for the Lakers.

Minnewaska goes to the Target Center on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game against Jackson County Central.

SAUK CENTRE - Stats not available

MINNEWASKA - Scoring: Addy Kath 9, Maddie Thorfinnson 11, Addy Randt 6, Kolstoe 7, Sydney Dahl 12, Olivia Danielson 2 … 3-point shots: Kath 1, Thorfinnson 1, Randt 2, Dahl 2 … Rebound leader: Kolstoe 6 … Assist leader: Kath 1, Thorfinnson 1, Randt 1, Kolstoe 1 … Steal leader: Randt 7 ... Block leader: Dahl 2

Scoring 16 of her game-high 26 points in the second half, Avery Koenen led a strong second-half effort to lead Montevideo in a West Central Conference win at Melrose.

Teagan Epema hit all three of her 3-pointers in the first half in a 16-point effort for the Thunder Hawks.

Montevideo goes to Bird Island to face BOLD at 6 p.m. Friday.

MONTEVIDEO - Scoring: Teagan Epema 16, Tenley Epema 6, Kiera Foley 4, Avery Koenen 26, Keely Foley 7, Hailey Dirksen 9, Kassey Pauling 2 … 3-point shots: Tea. Epema 3 … Rebound leader: Ke. Foley 7, Tea. Epema 6, Koenen 12 … Assist leader: Ten. Epema 3, Tea. Epema 2 … Steal leader: Tea. Epema 2 ... Block leader: Ke. Foley 1, Koenen 2

MELROSE - Scoring: Ellie Heller 3, Brooke Finken 9, Kaydence Bertram 14, Ria Nelson 8, Madi Stusse-Birch 15, Paige Gruber 2, Brooke Meyer 6 … 3-point shots: Heller 1, Finken 2, Stusse-Birch 2 … Rebound leader: n/a … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: n/a ... Block leader: n/a 

Led by Jordan Munson’s 18 points, seven rebounds and six steals, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton got the Camden Conference victory over Dawson-Boyd at Tracy.

Ayiana Hastad had a Blackjack-best 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals.

Dawson-Boyd goes to Renville to play Renville County West at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

DAWSON-BOYD - Scoring: Chelsie Husby 2, Katherine Dahl 5, Ayiana Hastad 10, Taylen Jorgenson 3, Allison Estling 7, Laney Bartunek 4 … 3-point shots: Dahl 1, Hastad 1, Jorgenson 1, Estling 1 … Rebound leader: Hastad 9 … Assist leader: Estling 1 … Steal leader: Hastad 3 ... Block leader: Dahl 1 

TRACY-MILROY-BALATON - Scoring: Jordan Munson 18, Madison Timmerman 6, Maddi Langerock 6, Jasmine Timmerman 2, Camille Dolan 4, Kiarra Danielson 16, Lauren Zick 6, Margaret Dolan 8, Jaysa Davis 2 … 3-point shots: Munson 2, Langerock 1, Danielson 1 … Rebound leader: Munson 7 … Assist leader: n/a … Steal leader: Munson 6 ... Block leader: n/a 

Jumping out to a 47-13 lead before halftime, Central Minnesota Christian cruised to a non-conference win over Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City in Grove City.

Coco Duininck led a quartet of Bluejays in double figures with 16 points. Sienna Duininck and Molly Mulder each had 12 points, followed by 10 from Natasha Erickson.

Mikaili Johnson and Ruby Klinger each had 10 points for the Falcons. Klinger finished with a double-double, hauling in 10 rebounds.

CMCS travels to Madison to take on Lac qui Parle Valley at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. ACGC heads to Holdingford at 7 p.m. Thursday.

CENTRAL MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN - Scoring: Sienna Duininck 12, Reagan Swart 2, Maaike Duininck 2, Emma Roiseland 5, Natasha Erickson 10, Molly Mulder 12, Lauren Taatjes 6, Coco Duininck 16, Avery Duininck 1 … 3-point shots: S. Duininck 2, C. Duininck 1 … Rebound leader: M. Mulder 5 … Assist leader: S. Duininck 2, M. Mulder 2, C. Duininck 2 … Steal leader: S. Duininck 5 ... Block leader: Erickson 2 

ATWATER-COSMOS-GROVE CITY - Scoring: Elli Roemeling 9, Mikaili Johnson 10, Taylor Frericks 2, Brooke Schultz 6, Ruby Klinger 10  … 3-point shots: Schultz 2 … Rebound leader: Klinger 10, Roemeling 7 … Assist leader: Roemeling 2, Schultz 2 … Steal leader: Roemeling 3, Johnson 3, Frericks 3 ... Block leader: Klinger 3 

Sophia Bollig nearly had a triple-double with 22 points, 20 rebounds and nine steals in Community Christian School’s win over Lake Region Christian of Baxter at Willmar.

Hope Reid chipped in with eight points, 17 rebounds and five blocks for the Eagles, who remain unbeaten at 12-0.

CCS goes to Mankato to face the Rochester Defenders at 6 p.m. Friday.

LAKE REGION CHRISTIAN - Stats not availableCOMMUNITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - Scoring: Sophia Bollig 22, Hope Reid 8, Gabbie Bollig 8, Margo Klassen 6, Kailey Hines 3, Lexi Nelson 2 … 3-point shots: none … Rebound leader: Bollig 20, Reid 17 … Assist leader: Nelson 4, Klassen 4 … Steal leader: Bollig 9 ... Block leader: Reid 5