Girls Basketball

A/E 40, H-BC 34

ADRIAN — Everyone in the gym knew that Adrian/Ellsworth senior Sadie Krahling was just three points away from her 1,000th career point. But for Krahling there was no rush to celebrate personal achievement — opting to pass to open teammates instead of driving through a double team. After all, there was a very important Red Rock Conference game to win against foe Hills-Beaver Creek.

“Going in, my coaches asked me, ‘Do you want us to draw up a play for you to get it right away? Or do you want to kind of let it flow?’” said Krahling. “I told them, I don’t want to force it, I don’t want to put up silly shots. I want it to come naturally and not force anything. I think that helped a lot, it took a lot of pressure off of me and also gave my teammates opportunities to score too, and I think that’s a big thing. I didn’t want to come into tonight making my only goal to get my 1,000th point. I wanted to make sure we came out with a victory instead.”

It was the second meeting between the Dragons and Patriots, the first was a 55-52 victory for H-BC.

A trey from Brynn Rauk on the opening possession gave the Patriots their only lead of the night as the next 12 points were scored by the Dragons.

Adrian’s 2-3 zone defense forced the Patriots into several contested perimeter shots for over half the first half.

“Our defense is one of our best things about our team, and when we have a good defensive night, that’s when we work well offensively,” said Krahling. “ That’s what we did tonight, we worked very hard defensively to make them put up some bad shots and stuff like that. I think that helped us a lot, and on the offensive end, I would say we were calm, taking good shots and getting very excited for one another too, which helps a lot.”

The Adrian gym was full, but the spark and loudest cheers came audibly from the Dragons bench.

“That makes it fun when you have the crowd and your bench (it just) gets the game excited, who wants to play in a dead gym anyways and we talk to our girls that you’re just as important whether you’re a bench player, or Sadie Krahling who puts up 1,000 points — that you all play a role,” said Dragons coach Jes Hermeling-Reyne. “Those girls are what make our girls on the floor. … It is awesome that they get into the game the way they do, and I think that’s why we’re seeing the success that we are.”

After the Dagons took a 12-3 lead, the Patriots scored the next eight points to cut the deficit 12-11. A/E scored two consecutive field goals, but H-BC made the most of a Krahling missed free throw, maneuvering the final six seconds into a mid-range buzzer beater for a 16-13 half time score.

The second half saw the Dragons and Patriots trade baskets. Both teams continued to score only in bunches and tough defense lead to scoring droughts. With 55 seconds left, the Dragons led 36-28 and called timeout to prepare an inbound play to beat the H-BC desperation press.

But disaster struck twice, as both inbound passes were turned over and the Patriots now trailed by just four.

“I think it just came down to, we had to get our leaders the ball, and if Katie (Buntjer) or Sadie had the ball, I think everybody was just at ease. So once we got the ball back onto our side of the floor … everybody was like, ‘Okay, we will be fine,’’ said Hermeling-Reyne. “And that’s exactly what the girls knew that we had to do in (a subsequent) timeout. That’s one awesome thing that I have with these girls too, is they’ll sit down in a timeout and be like, we need to run this, and I will stand here and she goes here. I’m like, awesome, I’ve never had that kind of pleasure before. They know what to run before I even have to say it and they know where to put themselves and how to screen and that just comes with how much work and attention that they’re putting in practice.”

Cool and collected, Krahling (15 points), Buntjer and freshman Kamry Lehnhoff all made free throws down the stretch to ice the game and secure a 40-34 win for the Dragons.

Adrian improves to 11-8 on the season and plays Edgerton Thursday. H-BC falls to 10-8 and its leading scorer was senior Lane Elbers with 13 points.

Adrian/Ellsworth 16 40

Hills-Beaver Creel 13 34

Edgerton 74, RRC 25

(From Edgerton’s Mike Drooger)

EDGERTON — It was a big night in Edgerton for Alyda Vande Griend. The 6’ senior eclipsed the 1,000-rebound mark and reached the 1,500-point plateau. She finished with 20 points and nine boards as the Flying Dutchmen won easily over Red Rock Central 74-25.

Vande Griend received plenty of help from her teammates, including her sophomore sister Reese, who had five steals, four assists, seven rebounds, and 14 points. Elliot Fleischman had four assists and 13 points. Mateya Gilbertson had three assists and 15 points.

The Dutchmen improved to 13-6 overall and 10-2 in Red Rock Conference play. The Falcons slipped to 1-17 and 0-11. Red Rock Central will host Southwest Minnesota Christian on Thursday, while Edgerton will be in Adrian.

SWC 67, MCC 43

SLAYTON — Madyson Fey had 20 points for the Southwest Minnesota Christian Eagles’ ninth-straight victory over Murray County Central. SWC won 67-43.

The Eagles improved to 16-1 and are undefeated in conference play. Ana Veldkamp had 16 points, Jocelyn Barron had 10 points and Victoria Prins had six. The Eagles had 19 team assists with Makenzie Pap and Peyton Van Essen leading the team with four apiece. SWC also had two blocks and 20 steals.

SWC plays Red Rock Central on Thursday.

SWC 41 67

MCC 21 43

Boys Basketball

Worthington 87, JCC 85

JACKSON — In a highly-contested Big South Conference showdown, the Worthington Trojans boys basketball team narrowly edged Jackson County Central in triple overtime.

What made the difference in the end for the Trojans were two clutch free throws from senior Kaleb Knothe with five second left in the third overtime.

Leading the Trojans in scoring was Zach Hayenga with 27 points. Andrew Mulder added 26 points, Jacari Swinea had 21 and Knothe finished with 11.

Up next for the 9-6 Trojans is a home game Friday against New Ulm. The Huskies will host Maple River Thursday.

Boys Hockey

Worthington 4, Austin 2

AUSTIN — Three goals in the second period propelled the Worthington Trojans to their fifth victory on the season. Involved in three scoring plays, including the go-ahead score, was WHS defenseman Anthony Jimenez.

Jimenez assisted Spenser Nickel for the first Trojan goal, and was well connected with forward Easton Newman as they each assisted the other for a goal. Newman, who scored two goals on the night, had the game tying goal in the second period on assists from Ian Bumgardner and Nickel.

The Trojans had 45 shots on goal. They will host Redwood Valley on Thursday.

Worthington 0 3 1 – 4

Austin 1 1 0 – 2

Gymnastics

Worthington 142.35, BEA 132.8

BLUE EARTH — Hali Bullerman set a personal record with her all-around score of 37.425 in a dual meet between the stalwart Worthington Trojans and Blue Earth Area.

Bullerman scored a 9.575 on the vault, a 9.275 on the bars, 9.625 on the beam and 8.95 on the floor. She was the leading scorer in the vault, bars and beam. The top scorer on the floor was fellow Trojan senior gymnast Addison Gerber, who scored 9.35. Gerber was second in the all-around with a score of 36.45.

Scoring on the vault for the Trojans were Bullerman, Gerber with 9.075, Marly Phonsatry with an 8.85 and Kenadie Thiner with an 8.4.

On the bars was Bullerman, Gerber with an 8.575, Brooklyn Dykstra with an 8.45 and Claire Meyer with a 7.95.

Scoring on beam was Bullerman, Gerber with a 9.45, Jordis Weber with an 8.65 and Thiner with an 8.4.

Scoring on the floor was Gerber, Thiner with a 9.2, Bullerman with a 8.95 and Lucy Their with an 8.55.

The gym team’s next meet will be Thursday in Worthington against St. James Area.