The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team lost at Redwood Valley last Saturday, 74-66.  It was only the second time this season the Lakers have lost two-straight games.

Minnewaska Area came back from that loss with two wins last week over KMS last Tuesday night at home, 69-45, and against Morris Area-CA, Friday night at home, 68-31.

The Lakers are 16-7 overall and 8-2 in the conference heading into the  last three games of the regular-season.  A recap of the Morris game will appear next week.

“We just beat a very good KMS team, which gives us momentum going into the final regular season games and playoffs,” coach Sidney Barker said.  “Basketball is a long season, but our girls are coming into practice everyday and giving their all consistently and that’s all us coaches can ask for.”

The Lakers are set to host Melrose Area, Tuesday (tomorrow) before playing at West Central Area, Thursday, and at Albany, Tuesday, Feb. 20.

The Section 3AA Tourney is set to begin Saturday, Feb. 24 and the Lakers appear to have the sub-section’s second seed locked up, meaning they would face EV-Watkins or Litchfield in the opening round.

“I have all the confidence in the world in our players,” coach Barker said.  “There are many good teams we will face, but if we can play relentless Minnewaska basketball for 36-plus minutes each time we step on the court in the section playoffs, I love our chances!”

Redwood 74, Waska 66

The Lakers dropped a 74-66 decision at Redwood Valley, Saturday,  Feb. 3 at Redwood Falls.  Minnewaska Area trailed 30-27 at halftime before being outscored 44-39 in a high-scoring second half.

Redwood Valley, one of the top teams in Section 3AA, had four players score in double figures, including Cali Johnson with 21 points and Kenzie Lundeen with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Sydney Dahl paced the Lakers with 25 points, eight rebounds and two steals, Olivia Danielson added 11 points, three boards and four assists.  Dahl was 9-of-20 from the field and 5-of-9 from the line while Danielson was 4-of-8 on field goals and 3-of-3 at the line.

The Lakers, who shot 44 percent from the field (24-for-55), also got 10 points from Avery Fier and nine points, four assists and three steals from Megan Thorfinnson.

It was one of the better shooting nights of the season for the Lakers from long-range as Minnewaska Area was 5-of-11 on three-pointers.

Also scoring for the Lakers were Jayda Kolstoe with five points and three rebounds, Addy Kath with five points, four assists and a team-high 11 rebounds and Lauryn Ankeny with one point, two assists and two steals.

Waska 69, KMS 45

The Lakers outscored the Saints 36-15 in the second half on the way to a 69-45 non-conference win over KMS last Tuesday night at home.  The win was a big one for the Lakers, who may have clinched the second seed in their half of Section 3AA with the win.

Keys to the win were a big advantage from the free-throw line along with a 31-15 edge in turnovers and 21-9 advantage in steals.

The Lakers, who were 15-of-31 from the line, were led by Sydney Dahl’s 19 points and four rebounds, while Megan Thorfinnson added nine points, three boards, two assists and three steals, and Avery Fier totaled nine points, three rebounds and three steals.

Overall, the Lakers shot 44 percent from the field, including 18-of-33 on two-point field goals.

Also scoring for the Lakers were Lauryn Ankeny with eight points, Jayda Kolstoe with seven points and a team-high eight rebounds, Alia Randt with seven points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals, Kendall Danielson with four points and three steals, Olivia Danielson with three points and Addy Kath with three points, three boards, three assists and a team-high four steals.

This was the fourth-highest point total for the Lakers this season.  The team has scored 70 or more points three times with a high of 75 points.  “We have so much depth on our team that it’s hard to not have a threat on the floor at all times, which can make it challenging for opponents,” coach Barker said.

at Redwood 74, Waska 66

Waska (14-7) 27 39 — 66

Redwood 30 44 — 74

WASKA stats:  24-55 FG (5-11 3pt); 13-24 FT; 31 rebounds; 17 assists; 9 steals; 20 turnovers; 15 fouls . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 25, Olivia Danielson 11, Avery Fier 10, Megan Thorfinnson 9, Addy Kath 5, Jayda Kolstoe 5, Lauryn Ankeny 1 . . . Rebounding:  Kath 11, Dahl 8, Danielson 3, Kolstoe 3 . . . Assists:  Danielson 4, Thorfinnson 4, Kath 4, Alia Randt 2, Ankeny 2. . . Steals:  Thorfinnson 3, Ankeny 2, Dahl 2

RED stats:   Scoring:  Cali Johnson 21, Kenzie Lundeen 17, Kendall Huhnerkoch 12, Hailyn Ourada 12 . . . Rebounding:  Lundeen 10, Kylee Larsen 9 . . . Other stats not available

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at Waska 69, KMS 45

KMS 30 15 — 45

Waska (15-7) 33 36 — 69

WASKA stats:  24-55 FG (6-22 3pt); 15-31 FT; 31 rebounds; 9 assists; 21 steals; 15 turnovers; 15 fouls . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 19, Megan Thorfinnson 9, Avery Fier 9, Lauryn Ankeny 8, Jayda Kolstoe 7, Alia Randt 7, Kendall Danielson 4, Olivia Danielson 3, Addy Kath 3 . . . Rebounding:  Kolstoe 8, Randt 4, Dahl 4, Thorfinnson 3, Fier 3, Kath 3, Ankeny 2 . . . Assists:  Kath 3, Randt 2, Thorfinnson 2 . . . Steals:  Kath 4, Randt 3, Fier 3, Thorfinnson 3, K. Danielson 3, Dahl 2

KMS:   Scoring:  Acelynn Hacker 16, Emily Wagner 13, Leah Wagner 10 . . . Reb:  Mamie Luft 9, Sophia Oerter 7. . . Other stats NA

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