Defense propels Vikings in win over Blackjacks, 50-24

Despite a dismal shooting first half, Minneota's defense shined throughout the game and the Vikings defeated Dawson-Boyd 50-24 Monday night in Dawson.
The Vikings (6-1) shot only 19 percent from the field in the first half in scoring a season-low 18 points in a half. But the offense got going in the second half while the defense limited the Blackjacks to only nine points.
This marked the third time this season that the Vikings limited an opponent to fewer than 30 points in a game.
Even though the Vikings shot only 27 percent for the game, they launched 40 more shots than the Blackjacks (2-7), who shot 30 percent.
Ireland Stassen had 11 points, 11 rebounds and six steals. Grace Hennen finished with 11 points and six steals. Kenadi Arndt chipped in with seven points and five rebounds, Nevaeh Hennen had seven points, Dakoda Hennen and Kiersyn Hulzebos added five points apiece, Ella Johnson had three and Megan Krog one.
Five players drained a three-pointer; Stassen, Dakoda Hennen, Nevaeh Hennen, Hulzebos and Johnson.
The Blackjacks led 4-0 to start the game before Minneota went on a 9-0 run. Grace Hennen started the run by turning a steal into a layup. Kenadi Arndt followed with a layup to knot the game 4-4. Grace Hennen then scored on a putback and Hulzebos snapped the cords from beyond the three-point arc.
Dawson-Boyd rallied back with a 6-0 run to take a 10-9 lead on consecutive inside baskets by Hayley Anderson and a layup by Ayiana Hastad.
Nevaeh Hennen's 15-footer put the Vikings back on top, 11-10. Stassen followed with her three-pointer for a 14-10 lead. The Vikings went into the locker room at halftime with an 18-15 advantage.
The Vikings came out aggressive to start the second half, scoring the first 10 points; four each from Dakoda Hennen and Stassen. Dawson-Boyd didn't score in the second half until eight minutes had elapsed when Hastad scored inside.
The Vikings then went on a 7-0 run to put the game away.

Minneota 50, Dawson-Boyd 24
Dawson-Boyd.......................15 9 - 24
Minneota...............................18 32 - 50

Team Statistics
Field-goal shooting (good-attempt-pct.): Dawson-Boyd 10-for-33, 30 percent; Minneota 20-for-73, 27 percent ... 3-point shooting (good-attempts-pct.): Dawson-Boyd 2-for-8, 25 percent; Minneota 5-for-23, 22 percent ... Rebounds: Dawson-Boyd 34, Minneota 32

D-Boyd Individual Statistics
Scoring (total points): Ayiana Hastad 6, Chelsie Husby 0, Kate Dahl 5, Hayley Anderson 4, Allison Estling 5, Taylen Jorgenson 1, Rachel Jorgens 3 ... 3-pointers: Dahl 1, Estling 1 ... Rebound leaders: Hastad 10, Dahl 6, Anderson 5 ... Assist leader: Hastad 3 .... Steal leaders: Estling 2, Husby 2

Minneota Individual Statistics
Scoring (fg-att, ft-att, pts): Kenadi Arndt 2-12 3-6 7, Emma Bottelberghe 0-2 0-0 0, Dakoda Hennen 2-5 0-0 5, Grace Hennen 5-15 1-2 11, Ella Johnson 1-1 0-1 3, Nevaeh Hennen 3-4 0-0 7, Kiersyn Hulzebos 2-7 0-0 5, Megan Krog 0-6 1-2 1, Faith Myhre 0-5 0-0 0, Ireland Stassen 5-16 0-2 11 ... 3-pointers: Stassen 1, D.Hennen 1, Hulzebos 1, N.Hennen 1, Johnson 1 ... Rebounds: Stassen 11, Arndt 5, Krog 4, G.Hennen 3, Hulzebos 3, Bottelberghe 2, N.Hennen 2, D.Hennen 1, Myhre 1 ... Assists: Hulzebos 3, Boittelberghe 2, G.Hennen 2, D.Hennen 2, Stassen 2 .... Steals: Stassen 6, G.Hennen 6, Bottelberghe 1 ... Blocks: Arndt 2, Stassen 2

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Vikings top CMCS
Minneota 49, CMCS 27
The Vikings held the Bluejays to only 18 percent shooting from the field, including just one of 12 shots from three-point range.
Central Minnesota Christian School (1-9) has just one senior on the team this season. Against Minneota, The Bluejays and had an eighth-grader and a freshman in the starting lineup.
The Bluejays played a patient first half to keep the ball out of the Vikings' hands while looking for open shots.
Ireland Stassen notched another double-double with game-highs of 22 points and 18 rebounds, to go along with four steals and two assists. She sank three of the Vikings' four 3-pointers.
Grace Hennen had 10 points and Kenadi Arndt nine for the Vikings (5-1).
Neither team shot well in the first half despite open looks. CMCS scored the first basket of the game on a spin move down the lane by Sienna Duininck. Minneota then went on a 6-0 run on two baskets by Faith Myhre and another by Grace Hennen.
The Bluejays closed to within 11-10 and had three good looks at the basket to take the lead but couldn't connect.
Stassen then banked in a three-pointer for a 14-10 lead.
After a CMCS free throw by Sienna Duninck, Stassen then cashed one of two free throws to give Minneota a 15-11 lead.
Just before halftime, Kenadi Arndt made a steal, Stassen grabbed a rebound off a teammate's miss and kicked the ball out to Grace Hennen, who then dropped in a three-pointer and the Vikings grabbed an 18-11 halftime advantage.
The Vikings went on a 7-2 to start the second half to take a 25-13 lead and the Bluejays never threatened again.
Sienna Duininck, an eighth-grader, led CMCS (1-9) with nine points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Lauren Taatjes had six points and six rebounds for the Bluejays. No one else had more than three points.

MINNEOTA 49, CMCS 27
CMCS.....................................11 16 - 27
Minneota...............................18 31 - 49

Team Statistics
Field-goal shooting (good-attempt-pct.): Central Minnesota Christian 9-for-49, 18 percent; Minneota 20-for-64, 31 percent ... 3-point shooting (good-attempts-pct.): Central Minnesota Christian 1-for-12, 8 percent; Minneota 4-for-14, 29 percent ... Rebounds: Central Minnesota Christian 30, Minneota 41

CMCS Individual Statistics
Scoring (total points): Naomi Asake 0, Avery Duininck 2, Sienna Duininck 9, Natasha Erickson 3, Morgan Groen 0, Carene Jean-Louis 0, Lilly Mellema 2, Carrie Mulder 3, Peighton Mulder 0, CC Roiseland 2, Lauren Taatjes 6, Sophia Vogel 0 ... 3-pointers: C.Mulder 1 ... Rebound leaders: S.Duininck 8, Taatjes 6, Roiseland 5 ... Assist leader: not available .... Steal leaders: S.Duininck 3, Mellema 2, C.Mulder 2

Minneota Individual Statistics
Scoring (fg-att, ft-att, pts): Kenadi Arndt 4-14 1-4 9, Emma Bottelberghe 0-1 0-0 0, Dakoda Hennen 1-5 0-0 2, Grace Hennen 4-7 1-1 10, Nevaeh Hennen 0-3 0-0 0, Kiersyn Hulzebos 0-3 0-0 0, Megan Krog 1-5 0-0 2, Faith Myhre 2-2 0-1 4, Ireland Stassen 8-24 3-7 22 ... 3-pointers: Stassen 3, G.Hennen 1 ... Rebounds: Stassen 18, Arndt 10, Krog 6, Bottelberghe 3, D.Hennen 2, Hulzebos 1, Myhre 1 ... Assists: Arndt 4, Stassen 2, Bottelberghe 1, G.Hennen 1, Hulzebos 1 .... Steals: Stassen 4, Arndt 3, D.Hennen 3, Hulzebos 1, Krog 1 ... Blocks: N.Hennen 1