Vikings open season with lopsided victory
Minneota opened the girls' basketball season on Friday with a 60-41 victory over neighboring Canby in a Camden Conference contest in Minneota.
Senior guard Grace Hennen tossed in a game-high 18 points, including a trio of three-pointers, and had six rebounds and two assists.
The Vikings played a fast-paced game which led to some turnovers, but it was to be expected early in the season.
"I told the girls that I wanted the speed to be almost reckless so they would get used to a fast pace because when we play bigger teams, our speed will be an advantage," said Minneota coach Al Panka. "I thought we played even faster than last year."
Senior forward Faith Myhre added 14 points, six rebounds and five steals; senior post Kenadi Arndt contributed nine points, five rebounds and five steals; and senior guard Dakoda Hennen delivered seven points, five rebounds and four steals.
The Vikings (1-0) trailed just once in the game at 3-2, but then went on a 13-5 run for a 15-7 lead. Minneota led 38-19 at halftime.
Minneota opened up a 35-point lead in the second half which led to a running clock.
Minneota didn't shoot well in its opener, hitting only 29 percent of its shots from the field, but had numerous second and third chances as evidenced by 20 offensive rebounds and an overall 35-20 rebound advantage.
"We didn't shoot particularly well and missed some easy baskets that
didn't go down," said Panka. "But I thought we played pretty well overall for a first game and we were able to get everyone in the game."
Fifteen players saw action for the opener; nine of which broke into the scoring column.
Ava Danielson and Brynn Kockelman scored 11 points apiece for the Lancers (0-2).
Minneota 60, Canby 41
Canby.......................................................19 22 - 41
Minneota..................................................38 22 - 60
Team Statistics
FG shooting: Canby 14-for-40, 35 percent; Minneota 20-for-70, 28.6 percent ... 3-point shooting: Canby 3-for-15, 20 percent; Minneota 6-for-19, 31.6 percent ... FT shooting: Canby 10-for-14, 71.4 percent; Minneota 14-for-23. 60.9 percent ... Rebounds: Canby 20, Minneota 35 ... Turnovers: Canby 30, Minneota 21 ... Fouls: Canby 17, Minneota 19
Canby Statistics
Scoring (fgm-fga, ftm-fta, pts): Danielson 4-5 3-4 11, Devos 0-1 1-2 1, Driessen 2-7 0-0 6, Frank 1-3 0-0 3, Hentges 1-2 0-0 2, Kockelman 5-14 1-1 11, Nelson 0-3 5-7 5, Thovson 1-4 0-0 2, Verhelst 0-1 0-0 0 ... 3-pointers: Driessen 2, Frank 1 ... Rebound leader: Frank 5 ... Assist leader: not available ... Steal leader: Hentges 3, Kockelman 3
Minneota Statistics
Scoring (fgm-fga, ftm-fta, pts): Kenadi Arndt 3-13 3-4 9, Emma Bottelberghe 1-2 0-0 2, Jalyn Coequyt 0-3 1-2 1, Brooke DeSmet 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Gruenes 2-8 0-0 4, Dakoda Hennen 3-7 0-0 7, Grace Hennen 4-11 7-10 18, Nevaeh Hennen 1-3 0-0 2, Kiersyn Hulzebos 1-5 0-0 3, Hadli Krog 0-1 0-0 0, Faith Myhre 5-14 3-6 14, Dakota Pesch 0-0 0-0 0, Natalie Ratajczak 0-3 0-0 0, Abby Rolbiecki 0-0 0-0 0, Claire Rost 0-0 0-1 0 ... 3-pointers: G.Hennen 3, Hulzebos 1, D.Hennen 1, Myhre 1 ... Rebounds: G.Hennen 6, Myhre 6, Arndt 5, D.Hennen 5, Rost 3, Coequyt 3, Gruenes 3, Bottelberghe 1, DeSmet 1, N.Hennen 1, Hulzebos 1, Rolbiecki 1 ... Assists: Hulzebos 3, G.Hennen 2, Bottelberghe 1, Gruenes 1, D.Hennen 1, Myhre 1, Rost 1 ... Steals: Arndt 5, Myhre 5, D.Hennen 4, Bottelberghe 2, Gruenes 2, Hulzebos 1, Rost 1