WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Rebounding woes hurt Lady Jays in defeat

WORTHINGTON — Despite 17 points and six rebounds by Lindsey Drooger, Minnesota West fell to the Mount Marty JV team 71-59 in the second round of the Ninth Annual Sanford Health Basketball Classic Sunday.

“We just gave up too many offensive rebounds,” MW coach Mike Fury said. “They hit a couple buckets off those rebounds and then we didn’t get out on some 3-point shots. What was a tie game became a seven point game in about three possessions.”

MW jumped out to an early six- point lead on a pair of layups by Tiffany Gehl and Katey Granstra along with two free throws by Drooger.

However, the Lancers got right back in the game on five straight points by Kelly Amundson. The Lady Jays received two more points from Granstra, but the Lancers were able to grab a jumper and a 3-point bucket to take their first lead of the game.

“We just had a couple breakdowns there, especially on their offensive boards,” Fury said. “Then they picked up some 3’s and they built a lead so fast that it was tough to come back.”

The action went back-and-forth for much of the middle minutes of the game with neither team able to break away. A putback by Hermeling with just under 9 minutes left in the half tied the game at 18.

After a timeout, the Lancers strung together seven points to build a 25-18 lead with a little more than 5 minutes left.

“It seemed like this team was a lot more physical,” Tiffany Gehl said. “They all went in for the offensive rebounds and we didn’t do the best job of boxing them out. So, we gave them a bunch of second- and third- shots.”

The run by Mount Marty woke up the MW offense, which scored eight straight points of its own, with two layups by Granstra, a driving bucket by Brittany Hulstein and a layup from Gehl.

“It felt like we hustled more at the end of the first half,” Gehl said. “Whenever we are running hard, then we are always doing well, even when we are not making shots. If we still play good defense and hustle we can stay in it.”

The Lady Jays added four more points to one from the Lancers with less than a minute to play to make it 30-26

“At times, we played very well,” Fury said. “At the end of the first half, we had a nice run and got a lead. That is when we stepped up and faced the pressure. Otherwise we were a little bit timid and maybe a little tired from yesterday.”

Coming out of halftime, the Lancers picked up their game, scoring 13 points compared to just eight by the Lady Jays to take the lead for good at 39-38.

“I think they started hitting more shots and those offensive boards really started to kill us,” Gehl said. “Every girl I guarded would go in for the offensive rebound and they didn’t do that yesterday.”

MM started to pull away with eight minutes left after a three point bucket to take a 53-46 lead.

“I think we just had a little lapse in the second,” Fury said. “With about eight minute left I felt like we were still in it. Those threes and offensive rebounds helped them build a nine point lead and at that point it was pretty much over.”

MW only scored 12 more points the rest of the way partially from an inability to come down with offensive rebounds.

“We struggled with it offensively,” Fury said. “We never really got into a smooth flow. They played pretty tough defense.”

With the loss the Lady Jays fall to 1-1 heading into Thursday’s game against Dakota Wesleyan at 6 p.m. in Mitchell, SD.

“We could work on boxing out more in practice,” Gehl said. “Then we have to always hustle and always play hard, even when we are tired. We have to push through it and play our game.”

MOUNT MARTY JV 71, MINNESOTA WEST 59

MOUNT MARTY JV: Byrd 4 1-2 11, Dreckman 5 0-1 12, Norrid 0 0-0 0, Jandreau 3 2-2 11, Schmidt 4 2-3 13, Amundson 6 1-2 14, Blake 1 0-1 2, Lambley 4 0-0 8. TOTALS: 27 6-11 (55%) 71.

MINNESOTA WEST (1-1): Hermeling 2 1-1 5, Rasche 0 0-0 0, Eichenberger 1 1-2 4, Kazemba 1 0-0 2, Gehl 3 4-4 10, Hulstein 4 1-4 9, Drooger 5 4-4 17, Granstra 6 0-0 12. TOTALS: 22 11-15 (73%) 59.

Mount Marty JV 26 45 --- 71

Minnesota West 30 29 --- 59

3-POINT GOALS: Mount Marty JV 11 (Jandreau 3, Schmidt 3, Byrd 2, Dreckman 2, Amundson), Minnesota West 4 (Drooger 3, Eichenberger). REBOUNDS: Mount Marty JV 42 (Amundson 17, Lambley 7, Blake 6), Minnesota West 41 (Granstra 10, Drooger 6, Kazemba 6). TOTAL FOULS (FOULED OUT): Mount Marty JV 16 (none), Minnesota West 17 (Eichenberger, Hulstein). TECHNICAL FOULS: Mount Marty JV 0, Minnesota West 1 (Bench). STEALS: Mount Marty JV 10 (Dreckman 3), Mount Marty 8 (Hulstein 3). TURNOVERS: Mount Marty 13, Minnesota West 16.

FIRST ROUND

Minnesota West 68, Madison College 55

WORTHINGTON --- Brittany Hulstein supplied 22 points as Minnesota West held off Madison College in the first round of the Sanford Basketball Classic on Saturday at Worthington High School.

The Lady Jays had taken a 12-point (42-30) lead with 13½ minutes left before the WolfPack cut its deficit to 49-43 about 3½ minutes later. Lindsey Drooger (13 points) hit a 3-pointer before Hulstein converted a layup that extended Minnesota West’s edge back to 11 points (54-43).

Katey Granstra had 14 second-half points while finishing with 16 for the Lady Jays. She recorded a double-double with 15 rebounds. Tiffany Gehl reached double figures with 12 points.

“That was a nice win over a program (Madison College) that has always been strong,” Fury said. “I think the key was that we showed a lot of patience against their pressure.

“We had a nice lead but they made a run at us, but we were able to handle their pressure. (Drooger) hit a 3 and we got back some of our confidence that we could take care of their pressure.”

Courtney Spangler led all scorers and rebounders with 31 points and 16 caroms for Madison College.

MINNESOTA WEST 68, MADISON COLLEGE 55

MADISON COLLEGE (0-1): Anding 1 0-0 2, Schulenburg 2 0-0 5, Dunwiddie 2 0-2 4, Hayden 6 0-0 12, Milsap 0 0-0 0, Bierd 0 1-2 1, Spangler 12 7-7 31, Pfeuti 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 23 8-12 (67%) 55.

MINNESOTA WEST (1-0): Hermeling 0 0-0 0, Rasche 0 0-0 0, Eichenberger 1 1-2 3, Kazumba 0 2-4 2, Gehl 5 1-3 12, Hulstein 8 5-7 22, Drooger 5 0-0 13, Granstra 8 0-0 16. TOTALS: 27 9-16 (56%) 68.

Madison College 20 35 --- 55

Minnesota West 27 41 --- 68

3-POINT GOALS: Madison College 1 (Schulenburg), Minnesota West 5 (Drooger 3, Gehl, Hulstein). REBOUNDS: Madison College 35 (Spangler 16), Minnesota West 42 (Granstra 15). TOTAL FOULS (FOULED OUT): Madison College 14 (none), Minnesota West 13 (none). TECHNICAL FOULS: None. STEALS: Madison College 11 (Schulenburg 3, Hayden 3), Minnesota West 10 (Gehl 3, Drooger 3). TURNOVERS: Madison College 19, Minnesota West 17.

OTHER SCORE: Riverland 62, Dordt JV 49.

Daily Globe Reporter Jordan Willi may be reached at 376-7335.

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