The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team split a pair of non-conference games last week, losing at NLS last Monday night, 70-33, but coming back to nip Barnesville on the road last Tuesday night, 53-51.

The Lakers, who improved to 4-9 overall and 2-3 in the conference, were also set to play at Litchfield, Saturday, and results of that game will be highlighted next week.

Minnewaska, in the midst of a five-game road trip, was also set to play at Morris Area-CA, Tuesday (tomorrow) and at BOLD, Friday, Jan. 27.

NLS 70, Minnewaska 33

NLS stormed out to a 46-14 halftime lead and never looked back on the way to a 70-33 non-conference win over the Minnewaska Area girls basketball team last Monday night.

One game after scoring a season-low 36 points during a 36-28 win over Melrose, the Lakers scored three points less during the loss to the Wildcats.  

In addition, NLS’ 70 points came within two of the 72 points given up to BOLD during a 72-58 loss earlier this season.

Avery and Dakota Rich combined for 31 points for NLS, while teammate Jaden Coahran added 13 points as NLS had four players score in double figures.

Megan Thorfinnson led the way for the Lakers with 11 points, two rebounds, two steals and three blocked shots, while Brooke Kolstoe also scored in double figures, ending the game with 10 points, two boards, three steals and two blocks.

However, while those two players went 7-of-15 from the field, the rest of the team was 4-of-31 as Minnewaska Area ended the game by shooting 23 percent from the field (11-of-46).

The Lakers did go 4-of-12 from three-point range, with Thorfinnson connecting on three of her team’s 3-pointers.

Sydney Dahl added seven points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Lakers, while Avery Fier had two points and two rebounds, Leslie Murken also had two points, Lauryn Ankeny had one point and Jayda Kolstoe added four boards.

Waska 53, Barnesville 51

The Lakers rallied from a 25-21 halftime deficit to win at Barnesville last Tuesday night, 32-26.

Brooke Kolstoe and Megan Thorfinnson had big games for the Lakers, but the Lakers had seven player in all hit the scoring column and the Laker defense came up big with nine steals and nine blocked shots.

“Barnesville is a fun team to play against,” coach Sidney Schiffler said.  “Our defense was definitely what won us the game and the energy the girls brought that we fed off of on offense.”

Brooke Kolstoe went 9-of-14 from the field on the way to a team-high 19 points while also adding two assists, four rebounds and three steals, while Thorfinnson hit two of her team’s four 3-pointers on the way to 13 points.

The Lakers, who shot 34 percent from the field (19-for-55), also got six points and two boards from Jayda Kolstoe and six points, three rebounds and two steals from Avery Fier, while Lauryn Ankeny added three points and four rebounds, Sydney Dahl had three points, 11 rebounds, two steals and four blocked shots, and Leslie Murken chipped in with three points and two blocks.

It was a big win for the Lakers, who have gone 4-2 in their last six games after starting the season out 0-7.

“The end of the game got close, but our players did not give up and were relentless on defense to get that last stop,” coach Schiffler said.  “Many players stepped up and took big shots or big free-throws; it was a true team win.  Our players stayed poised and under control despite the pressure of the game.  It was our effort that got us the win last night; all 110 percent of it.”

at NLS 70, Minnewaska 33

Minnewaska (3-9) 14 19 — 33

NLS 46 24 — 70

WASKA stats:  11-46 FG (4-12 3pt); 7-16 FT; 5 assists; 21 rebounds; 7 steals; 10 fouls; 27 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Megan Thorfinnson 11, Brooke Kolstoe 10, Sydney Dahl 7, Leslie Murken 2, Avery Fier 2, Lauryn Ankeny 1 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 9, Jayda Kolstoe 4, Fier 2, B. Kolstoe 2, Thorfinnson 2 . . . Assists:  five with 1 each . . . Steals:  B. Kolstoe 3, Thorfinnson 2 . . . Blocked shots:  Thorfinnson 3, B. Kolstoe 2

NLS stats:  Scoring:  Avery Rich 20, Jaden Coahran 13, Dakota Rich 11, Ava Carlson 10 . . . Rebounding:  Ellary Peterson 11 . . . Other stats not available

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Waska 53, at Barnes 51

Minnewaska (4-9) 21 32 — 53

Barnesville (5-7) 25 26 — 51

WASKA stats:  19-55 FG (4-13 3pt); 11-19 FT; 5 assists; 26 rebounds; 9 steals; 17 fouls; 11 turnovers; 9 blocked shots . . . Scoring:  Brooke Kolstoe 19, Megan Thorfinnson 13, Avery Fier 6, Jayda Kolstoe 6, Leslie Murken 3, Sydney Dahl 3, Lauryn Ankeny 3 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 11, B. Kolstoe 4, Ankeny 4, Fier 3, J. Kolstoe 2  . . . Assists:  B. Kolstoe 2 . . . Steals:  B. Kolstoe 3, Fier 2, Dahl 2 . . . Blocks:  Dahl 4, Murken 2

BAR stats:   Stats not available

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