Rolbiecki, Tolk spark Vikings' win
Natalee Rolbiecki scored 15 of her game-high 25 points in the second half, and McKenzie Tolk scored a season-high 12 points as Minneota fended off upset-minded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 63-52 in a Camden Conference game Friday night in Tyler.
The game took on the look of a blowout victory for the Vikings (21-2), who are ranked No. 4 in Class A, after they took an 18-3 lead. But the Knights went on a 17-6 run and whittled the deficit to 24-20.
Minneota never trailed in the game but didn't build a comfortable lead until later in the game when they led by as many as 16 points.
Rolbiecki connected on 9-of-13 shots and 5-of-6 free throws. She made the Vikings' only two three-pointers of the game. Rolbiecki also went over the 1,500-point mark for her career. Her 1,517 points are No. 6 in Minneota history. Rolbiecki also led with the team with six rebounds to go along with three steals.
Tolk played one of her best all-around games of the season. The senior guard, who doesn't shoot much, scored on four drives to the basket and drained 4-of-5 free throws. It was her first double-figure scoring game of the season. Tolk also led the team with four assists and four steals.
The Knights defense came out to defend Minneota's top outside threat, McKenna Yost, who had five three-pointers against them in an earlier meeting this season. Yost was held to a season-low four points but did have three steals and three assists. But having a defender on the senior guard outside the arc also opened things up more inside for Rolbiecki and others. Jeren Rost and Kenadi Arndt had six points apiece inside, while Kennedi Jurrens had four. Ireland Stassen played sparingly due to an illness and had a season-low two points.
Tatum Hess led the Knights with 12 points and seven rebounds.
(Minneota 63, RTR 52)
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton...............................27 25 - 52
Minneota....................................................34 29 - 63
Team Statistics
Field goal shooting (good-attempts-pct.): Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 21-for-46, 45.7 percent. Minneota 23-for-47, 48.9 percent ... 3-point shooting (good-attempts-pct.): Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3-for-9, 33.3 percent. Minneota 2-for-11, 18.2 percent ... Rebounds: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 24, Minneota 25.
RTR Individual Statistics
Scoring (total points): Gabby Borresen 2, Abby Carr 2, Tatum Hess 12, Ella Hesse 8, Madison Lawrence 5, Allyson Nelson 3, Alexis Schreurs 2, Riley Serryn 5, Camry Swanson 6, Faith Thomsen 7 ... 3-pointers: Hess 2, Hesse 1 ... Rebound leader: Hess 7 ... Assist leader: not available ... Steal leader: Hess 2, Hesse 2, Swanson 2.
Minneota Individual Statistics
Scoring (fgm-fga ftm-fta points): Natalee Rolbiecki 9-13 5-6 25, Jeren Rost 3-8 0-0 6, McKenzie Tolk 4-6 4-5 12, McKenna Yost 0-8 4-5 4, Ireland Stassen 1-2 0-0 2, Grace Hennen 1-1 2-4 4, Kennedi Jurrens 2-3 0-0 4, Kenadi Arndt 3-5 0-0 6, Dakoda Hennen 0-1 0-0 0, Faith Myhre 0-0 0-0 0 ... 3-pointers: Rolbiecki 2 ... Rebounds: Rolbiecki 6, Arndt 5, Tolk 4, G.Hennen 2, Jurrens 2, Rost 2, Stassen 2, Yost 1, Myhre 1 ... Assists: Tolk 4, Yost 3, Rolbiecki 1, G.Hennen 1, Rolbiecki 1 ... Steals: Tolk 4, Rolbiecki 3, Yost 3, D.Hennen 2, Arndt 1, Jurrens 1, Stassen 1
Minneota 52, Canby 27
(Result Monday, Feb. 7)
The Vikings made 14 steals and forced 36 Canby turnovers to overcome an "off" shooting night in Canby.
Ireland Stassen led the Vikings (22-2) with 16 points to go along with four rebounds and four steals. Natalee Rolbiecki added 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
With the game knotted 8-8, the Vikings went on a 16-3 to grab a 24-11 halftime lead. Minneota then went on a 15-2 run to start the second half for a 39-13 advantage.
McKenna Yost had a strong defensive game extracting five steals and six rebounds while contributing eight points and three assists on offense. McKenzie Tolk dropped in six points and dished out three assists.
(MINNEOTA 52, CANBY 27)
Canby.........................................................11 16 - 27
Minneota....................................................24 28 - 52
Team Statistics
Field goal shooting (good-attempts-pct.): Canby 9-35, 25.7 percent. Minneota 21-for-53, 39.6 percent ... 3-point shooting (good-attempts-pct.): Canby 3-for-11, 27.3 percent. Minneota 2-for-12, 16.7 percent ... Rebounds: Canby 23, Minneota 25.
Canby Individual Statistics
Scoring (total points): Kockelman 4, Leppke 4, Nelson 5, Maya Wente 4, Wollum 2 ... 3-pointers: Hansen 1, Kockelman 1, Nelson 1 ... Rebound leader: Bruns 7 ... Assist leader: not available ... Steal leader: Bruns 2, Wente 2.
Minneota Individual Statistics
Scoring (fgm-fga ftm-fta points): Natalee Rolbiecki 4-11 2-2 11, Jeren Rost 1-3 0-0 2, McKenzie Tolk 3-6 0-0 6, McKenna Yost 2-9 3-4 8, Ireland Stassen 7-12 2-2 16, Grace Hennen 0-2 0-0 0, Kennedi Jurrens 1-2 0-2 2, Kenadi Arndt 1-5 1-2 3, Dakoda Hennen 1-1 0-0 2, Emma Bottelberghe 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Moorse 1-1 0-0 2, Faith Myhre 0-1 0-0 0 ... 3-pointers: Yost 1, Rolbiecki 1 ... Rebounds: Yost 6, Arndt 4, Rolbiecki 4, Stassen 4, Jurrens 2, Bottelberghe 1, Rost 1, Tolk 1 ... Assists: Yost 3, Tolk 3, Rolbiecki 2, Jurrens 1, Arndt 1, Stassen 1 ... Steals: Yost 5, Stassen 4, Rolbiecki 2, Rost 2, G.Hennen 1, Myhre 1.
CLASS A STATE RANKINGS
(1) Mt. Iron-Buhl (2) Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (3) Hayfield (4) Minneota (5) Hancock (6) Mayer Lutheran (7) Cass Lake-Bena (8) Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (9) Cromwell-Wright (10) Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa