Second straight strong game; test is coming
Something very good is happening.
The coaching staff sees it ... the players feel it and the fans support it.
What was a “young, undisciplined girls’ basketball team,” has become a dependable, winning bunch of veterans who have learned to play together.
After a stunning win over Lac qui Parle Valley last week, the Minneota girls turned loose another quality performance, beating back a much larger Yellow Medicine East squad, 77-51 to drive their record to 14-3 on the year.
But — and there is always a but — the hammer is about to meet the road with Southwest Minnesota Christian (14-2), Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (17-1) and Maranatha Academy (11-3) waiting just down the road.
Oh, “The test is coming,” says Coach Chad Johnston.
But for now, the coach leaned back in the bleachers and reported, “All is well ... for now.”
He looked more relaxed than normal.
“Two good games — two good performances,” he related. “If we keep that intensity, we’ll be fine,” he said.
To say there was worry about Yellow Medicine East’s “tall” lineup, would be an understand. And the last time the two met The Sting played without stalwart Anna McCosh.
(Oh, she poured in 25 points on this night).
But Minneota junior Lydia Sussner did her one better — outscoring McCosh by 30 points and out-rebounding her, 10-5.
“I told her she scored 30 and the girl she was guarding (McCosh) scored 25, so that’s a plus five for you). The coach laughed.
With Sussner holding down the fort inside, her outside shooters were able to land seven of 18 three-point shots for 39 percent and Abby Hennen had three of those and totaled 17 points. Morgan Hennen banked in two from long range and she and Morgan Kockelman each had nine points.
Maybe what’s happening to the Minneota girls team was best described by YME Coach Randy Haakenson, who said, “Yes, we have tall girls. But I wish I could put your girls mentality into my girls bodies.”
Ahha, a valid thought.
“We threw a little pressure on them and we looked good tonight,” said Coach Johnston. From the start, Minneota made the statement clear. “You may be taller than we are — but can you last playing our ‘run and gun’ style?”
The answer was, “No!”
“We did a lot of good things tonight,” said Coach Johnston. “Yes they’ve got height, but we’ve got athletes,” he said.
The Vikings “toyed” around with The Sting before Abby Hennen went to work. A couple of steals, three-pointers and the inside work of Sussner vaulted the home squad into 41-25 lead with four minutes to go in the first half and they never looked back.
A distinctive pattern was starting to take place.
Sussner would drive to the basket, make the bucket and attract a foul. She did that five times, four in the first half, and converted four of the time for a three-point play.
By halftime the game was well within control at 46-30.
YME’s “taller” performers wilted in the second-half sun and Coach Johnston was able to lay back on the bleachers and relax.
Then he talked about the “path ahead,” and suddenly, there was a lot more work to be done.
Oh yeah, a smile came to everyone’s face when they saw reserve senior Carolyn Hoffmann come off the bench and bang in a three-pointer.
Yeah, it hadn’t been a bad night.
Minneota 77, Yellow Medicine East 51
MINNEOTA (2’s, 3’s, FT, F, TP) Lizzy Gillingham 1 0 1-2 0 3; Abby Hennen 4 3 0-0 1 17; Morgan Hennen 1 2 1-2 2 9; Carolyn Hoffmann 0 1 0-0 0 3; Mariah Muhl 0 0 0-0 0 0; Abby Rost 1 0 0-0 0 2; Natalee Rolbiecki 1 0 2-2 3 4; Lydia Sussner 12 0 6-7 3 30. Totals 22 7 12-15 8 77.
YME (2’s, 3’s, FT, F, TP) Sam Anderson 1 0 0-0 2 2; Meeghen Dahlager 2 1 0-0 3 7; Mackenzie Dyrdahl 4 0 1-2 3 9; Hannah Gullickson 0 0 2-2 2 2; Madison Hinz 0 1 0-2 2 3; Kaitlyn Mathiowetz 0 0 0-0 1 0; Anna McCosh 12 0 1-4 2 25; Lauren McCosh 0 0 0-0 0 0; Kaitlyn Mortenson 0 1 0-0 2 3; Chelsey Niemeyer 0 0 0-0 0 0. Totals 19 3 4-10 17 51.
Score by Halves
YME 30 21 — 51
Minneota 46 31 — 77