Vikings survive physical battle with Red Lake
Minneota survived what seemed more like a welterweight flight than a basketball game in a first round 66-46 win over Red Lake Thursday.
"I expected that because it's pretty much the way we play," said Red Lake Coach Randy Holthusen.
In the early going, Red Lake's Gerika Kingbirg and Autumn Holthusen each hit a pair of threes and Red Lake vaulted to 14-4 lead.
"I just said, 'Ok, we're hitting them, keep it going,'" said Coach Holthusen.
But Minneota suddenly ignited the inside game behind Lydia Sussner and Abby Hennen hit a pair of threes and Minneota vaulted into a 15-14 run that wasn't finished until they'd outscored Red Lake 31-7. That included a 16-point run that put Minneota up at the half, 35-21.
"We ran an offense that we've never run before," said Minneota Coach Chad Johnston. "They put so much pressure on us we just had to kind of invent our offense," said Coach Johnston.
Both teams spend a lot of time on the floor fighting for loose balls and under the basket there was a lot of physical play. Minneota dominated the boards with a season-high 67 rebounds. Red Lake had 36 as they fought to get back in the game.
A full-court press by Red Lake took its toll on Minneota, which committed 19 turnovers. But Red Lake's Karlynn Chaboyea and Autumn Holthausen both fouled out and two others had four fouls.
The Warriors committed 26 fouls and the Vikings converted 18 of 33 free throws for 55 percent.
After a 16-point lead, Red Lake fought back to get within nine, but couldn't get closer.
The Vikings, using a steal and drive the full length of the floor by Sussner, took an a 18-point lead, 60-42.
Red Lake never got back in the game.
"They were pressing in on Lydia and she kicked the ball out nicely to us," said Abby Hennen, whose pair of three-pointers in the first half got the Vikings going.
Playing perhaps the game of her life was senior Lizzy Gillingham. She led the team with 19 points, including a key three-pointer with nine rebounds. "I knew I had to crash the basket and get rebounds, especially since they were guarding Lydia so tightly," said Gillingham.
Abby Hennen had 13 and Sussner 17 rebounds and Morgan Hennen added nine and reserve Natalee Rolbiecki got seven off the bench.
The Vikings will play Heritage Christian Academy winner at noon Friday at Wllliams Arena.
MINNEOTA (2's, 3's, FT, F, TP) Morgan Kockelman 2 0 1-2 4 5; Lizzy Gillingham 7 1 4-4 3 19; Morgan Hennen 2 0 0-1 5 4; Abby Hennen 4 3 5-9 2 16; Lydia Sussner 6 0 6-12 2 18; Natalee Rolbiecki 0 0 2-4 1 2; Abby Rost 1 0 0-0 2 2; Jeren Rost 0 0 0-0 0 0; Mariah Muhl, Audra Buysse, Madison Sorensen, Katie Konold all 0 0 0-0 0 0. Total 22 4 18-33 19 66.
RED LAKE (2's, 3's, FT, F, TP) Kaylynn Chaboyea 0 0 0-1 5 0; Angel McClain 3 1 4-9 4 11; Gerika Kingbirg 2 2 0-0 5 6; Autumn Holthusen 1 0 5-6 4 7; LaTayla Pemberton 1 0 3-3 - 5. Totals 13 6 14-24 26 46.
Score by Halves
Red Lake 21 25 — 46
Mnneota 35 31 — 61
Statistics:
SHOOTING: Minneota 2's 22 of 62 for 35 percent; 3's 4 of 13 for 31 percent; overall 26 of 75 for 35 percent); Red Lake (2's 13 of 58 for 22 percent; 3's 6 of 25 for 24 percent; overall 19 of 73 for 26 percent).
FREE THROWS: Minneota 18 of 33 for 55 percent; Red Lake 14 of 24 for 58 percent.
REBOUNDS: Minneota 67 (Sussner 17; A. Hennen 13; Gillingham, M. Hennen 9 each; Rolbiecki 7; Kockelman 4; J. Rost 1); Red Lake 36 (Autumn Holthausen 11; Kelanna McClain; 6; Kaylynn Chaboyea 4; Pemberton 3; Roy 2; R. McClain, Blue 1 each).
TURNOVERS: Minneota 19; Red Lake 10.
STEALS: Minneota 4 (A. Hennen, Sussner 2 each); Red Lake 13 (Chaboyea 5, Gerika Kingbird 4, A. McClaine, K. McClain, Pemberton 1 each).
ASSISTS: Minneota 12 (M. Hennen, Sussmer 3 each, Kockelman, Gillingham, A. Rost 2 each; A. Hennen 1); Red Lake 6 (Holthausen 3, Kingbirg 2, McClain 1).
BLOCKS: Minneota 3 (Sussner 3); Red Lake 7 (K. McClain 5; Holthausen 2).