The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team had a pair of easy wins last week over BBE (59-40) and Montevideo (53-28) giving the Lakers a 4-0 record to start the season.  

The Lakers took big leads by halftime in each game and cruised to the victory, giving the team a great start to the season.

Things get much tougher this week!  Minnewaska Area is set to play a pair of road games at NLS, Tuesday (tomorrow) and at Sauk Centre, Friday.  “The girls are playing good basketball for early in the season and we’re just taking it one game at a time,” coach Nick Danielson said.

Minnewaska 59, BBE 40

The Lakers improved to 3-0 for the season with a 59-40 victory over BBE last Tuesday night at home.  Minnewaska led 41-17 late in the first half before BBE whittled it down to 41-21 by the end of the first half and then outscored the Lakers 19-18 in the second half.

Minnewaska struggled from the field, shooting 30 percent for the game (23-for-76), including just 17 percent on three-pointers (4-of-23).

The Lakers, who did force BBE into 17 turnovers while recording 15 steals, were also just 9-of-22 (40 percent) from the line.

Despite those numbers, Minnewaska dominated the game and was never threatened, using its aggressive defense to force numerous steals leading to easy baskets.

Sydney Dahl had a good game with 18 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, while Olivia Danielson had 12 points, four boards and two steals, and Megan Thorfinnson added 10 points and three steals.

BBE had a poor-shooting night, going 19-for-62 from the field and 3-of-12 from the line.

Lauryn Ankeny also had a good night with eight points, six boards and five steals, while Alia Randt had one 3-pointer on the way to five points, two assists, three rebounds and two steals, Addy Kath had four points, a team-high eight boards and two steals, and Jayda Kolstoe had her team’s other two points

Waska 53, Monte 28

The Lakers won their WCC opener at Montevideo, Friday night, storming out to a 32-16 halftime lead and then holding the Thunderhawks to just 12 points in the second half.

Sydney Dahl led the Lakers with 15 points, 14 rebounds and two steals, while Megan Thorfinnson also scored in double figures with 10 points, fie boards, three steals and three blocked shots.

The Lakers did struggle with their shooting.  Minnewaska was just 26 percent from the field (21-for-78) and 42 percent from the line (8-of-19), including 3-of-22 from long range.  

However, 18 steals, 44 rebounds and forcing Montevideo into 27 turnovers will do a lot of good things for your team.

Jayda Kolstoe had a good game, going 4-of-7 from the field on the way to eight points and six rebounds, while Olivia Danielson had six points, two assists, three boards and three steals, Alia Randt had five points, two rebounds and two steals, and Lauryn Ankeny also had five points to go along with five boards and three steals.

Montevideo was held to 17 percent shooting from the field thanks to the Lakers’ tough, aggressive, full-court defense pressure which has caused big problems for opposing offenses.

Also scoring for the Lakers were Addy Kath with two points, three blocked shots, five rebounds and three steals, and Amber Peabody with two points.

at Waska 59, BBE 40

BBE 21 19 — 40

Minnewaska (3-0) 41 18 — 59

WASKA stats:  23-76 FG (4-23 3pt); 9-22 FT; 5 assists; 8 blocks; 31 rebounds; 15 steals; 8 fouls; 9 turnovers. . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 18, Olivia Danielson 12, Megan Thorfinnson 10, Lauryn Ankeny 8, Alia Randt 5, Addy Kath 4, Jayda Kolstoe 2 . . . Rebounding:  Kath 8, Dahl 6, Ankeny 6, O. Danielson 4, Randt 3. . . Assists:  Randt 2, three others with 1 each. . . Steals:  Ankeny 5, Thorfinnson 3, Dahl 2, Randt 2, Kath 2 . . . Blocks:  Dahl 3, Kath 2, three others with one each

BBE stats:  19-62 FG (1-6 3pt); 3-12 FT; 8 assists; 32 rebounds; 7 steals; 13 fouls; 17 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Kacey Fischer 10, Adley Hagen 10, Bree Theischafer 9, Mya Worms 8 . . . Rebounding:  Worms 8, Theischafer 5, Hagen 5 . . . Other stats not available

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Waska 53, at Monte 28

Minnewaska (4-0) 32 21 — 53

Montevideo 16 12 — 28

WASKA stats:  21-78 FG (3-22 3pt); 8-19 FT; 6 assists; 7 blocks; 44 rebounds; 18 steals; 17 fouls; 15 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 15, Megan Thorfinnson 10, Jayda Kolstoe 8, Olivia Danielson 6, Lauryn Ankeny 5, Alia Randt 5, Addy Kath 2, Amber Peabody 2. . . Rebounding:  Dahl 14, Kolstoe 6, Thorfinnson 5, Ankeny 5, Kath 5, Danielson 3, Kendall Danielson 2, Randt 2. . . Assists:  O. Danielson 2. . . Steals:  Kath 3, Ankeny 3, O. Danielson 3, Thorfinnson 3, Dahl 2, Randt 2 . . . Blocks:  Thorfinnson 3, Kath 3

MONTE stats:  8-45 FG (3-18 3pt); 9-17 FT; 21 rebounds; 8 steals; 15 fouls; 27 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Megan Koosmann 8, Lily Eisenlohr 6, Teagan Epema 4, Hallie Helgeson 4 . . . Rebounding:  Epema 6

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