Taya Kockelman got past a Lancer opponent  (right) Thursday night. She scored 10 poitns

By Byron Higgin
Mascot Publisher

It’s early in the season — but Round One goes to Canby.
Taya Kockelman’s first three-pointer gave Minneota it’s first lead of the game, 24-23 at 15:70 of the second half.
With Canby’s Riley Nordgaard nursing her four fouls on the bench, the Vikings built a nice 31-25 lead with 10:58 to go.
That’s when Lancer Coach Kevin Hansen sent Nordgaard back into the game. When she came out again  three and a half minutes later, Canby had a 37-33 lead. Nordgaard had 10 of the 12 points in that stretch.
Minneota never recovered and lost, 55-45.
“We had terrible passing. Against a team like this you can’t have turnovers in the half court,” said Minneota Coach Chad Johnston.
His team turned the ball over 20 times.
“We had a lead and we gave it up and when we needed a run, we kept turning the ball over,” he added.
The Vikings actually hit 19 field goals to 14 for Canby, but they sent the Lancers to the free throw line 37 times, they converted on 24 of those and that was the difference.
Both teams were cold from the field, with Minneota hitting just 33 percent and Canby 27 percent. Nordgaard outdueled Minneota’s Ashlynn Muhl, 21 points to 19, but Muhl also gathered in 15 rebounds.
“It’s early for us. They played zone and packed it in and wee needed that outside shot (and didn’t get it),” said Coach Johnston.
Courtney Slaba cashed in on 12 of 15 free throws and ended with 17 points for Canby.
Kockelman collected 10 for the Vikings and Kelsey Hennen scored eight. She fouled out, along with Megan McNeill as they kept sending Canby to the free throw line in attempts to get the ball.
“The girls played hard,” said Coach Johnston. “We know where we are sitting now. We’ll get better,” he added.

Minneota  21   24 — 45
Canby       22   32 — 55
MINNEOTA (Field goals, free throws, fouls, total points) Sam Hennen 2 0-1 4 4; Katelyn Kack 1 0-0 2 2; Kelsey Hennen 3 0-0 5 8; Taya Kockelman 4 0-0 4 10; Ashlynn Muhl 8 3-7 3 19; Jamie Lundberg 0 0-0 1 0; Sara Maeyert 1 0-0 0 2; Trisha Jerzaak 0 0-2 2 0; Megan McNeill 0 0-0 5 0; Kayla Maeyert 0 0-0 0 0. Totals 19 3-10 26 45. (Three-pointers: K. Hennen 2; Kockelman 2).
CANBY (Field goals, free throws, fouls, total points) Courtney Slaba 2 12-15 4 17; Riley Nordgaard 8 4-8 4 21; Caitlin Slaba 0 2-6 2 2; Nicole Kraus 1 5-6 2 7; Ashley Johnson 1 0-0 1 2; Kate Oellien 2 1-2 4 5; Kiley Mercer 0 0-0 0 0; Elise Citrowski 0 0-0 0 0. Totals 14 24-37 17 55. (Three-pointers: Nordgaard 1, Courtney Slaba 1),

SHOOTING: Minneota  19 of 58 for 33 percent; Canby 14 of 54 for 27 percent.
TURNOVERS: Minneota 20. Canby 18.
REBOUNDS: Minneota 27 (Muhl 15, Kack, K. Hennen 4 each). Canby 34 (Courtney Slaba, Kraus 6 each, Oellien, Caitlin Slaba, Nordgaard 5 each).

B Squad: Canby 40, Minneota 33