Defense, balanced scoring sparks Vikings
Minneota had four players score in double figures and the defense amassed 20 steals in a 78-47 drubbing of Yellow Medicine East on Tuesday night.
Minneota beat the Sting 92-34 in Granite Falls in the first meeting of the Camden Conference teams two weeks ago.
Only one team this season had scored 50-or-more points against Minneota, an 82-51 victory over Tracy-Milroy-Balaton.
Abby Hennen had 25 points and six steals for the Vikings (12-0), who were without starter Ireland Stassen for this game. Natalee Rolbiecki finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while McKenna Yost had 11 points and four steals and Jeren Rost 10 points and seven rebounds. Abby Rost added eight points and nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. McKenzie Tolk scored five points and Kennedi Jurrens two.
Minneota sank seven 3-pointers, including five from Abby Hennen.
The Vikings didn't shoot particularly well from the field at 36.9 percent, while YME shot 37 percent. But the Vikings launched 33 more shots based on YME's 31 turnovers.
Shelby Mortenson, who had only two points in the previous meeting, had a game-high 28 points and 17 rebounds in this game. She was 13-for-27 shooting while the rest of her teammates were 6-for-24.
Minneota 78, YME 47
YELLOW MEDICINE EAST (total points) - Ruby Bones 3, Gracie Kleven 0, Luft 2, Shelby Mortenson 28, Brylea Ruff 5, Schu 2, Hannah Stark 7. Totals 19-51 7-11 47.
MINNEOTA (FG, FT, Pts) - Abby Hennen 9-23 2-2 25, Grace Hennen 0-4 0-0 0, Kennedi Jurrens 1-6 0-0 2, Natalee Rolbiecki 7-16 1-6 17, Abby Rost 4-9 0-0 8, Jeren Rost 4-10 2-5 10, McKenzie Tolk 2-5 1-2 5, McKenna Yost 4-11 3-3 11. Totals 31-84 9-18 78.
3-pointers: YME 2 (Ruff 1, Stark 1). Minneota 7 (A.Hennen 5, Rolbiecki 2).
Rebounds: YME 37 (Mortenson 17, Ruff 10). Minneota 35 (A.Rost 9, Rolbiecki 7, J.Rost 7, G.Hennen 4, A.Hennen 3, Yost 3, Jurrens 2).
Assists: YME not available. Minneota 9 (A.Rost 6, A.Hennen 1, Jurrens 1, Tolk 1).
Steals: YME 3 (Mortenson 1, Schuller 1, Stark 1). Minneota 20 (A.Hennen 6, Yost 4, Rolbiecki 3, A.Rost 3, J.Rost 2, Jurrens 1 Tolk 1).
Turnovers: YME 31, Minneota 8.