•  Defense plays big role as Lakers hold Montevideo to just three second-half points during 58-13 victory

The Minnewaska girls basketball team opened up the season with its third-straight victory last Tuesday at home against Montevideo.  The Lakers  held the Thunderhawks to just 13 points during the 58-13 win, giving the Lakers a 3-0 overall record and 2-0 mark in the conference to open up the 2023-24 season.

The Lakers, who were 12-13 overall last year and 6-6 in the conference, also played at Sauk Centre, Friday, losing 54-53, but statistics from that game will be highlighted next week.

Minnewaska will get a big test this week with a home game against NLS, Tuesday (tomorrow) and a home game with Morris Area-CA, Friday, Dec. 15.

•  The Lakers were 0-7 to start out last season, but then went 12-5 over their next 17 games before losing to West Central Area in the section opener, 74-59. 

•  This year’s varsity roster includes senior Avery Fier; juniors Addy Kath, Lauren Stryhn, Sydney Dahl, Megan Thorfinnson, Dacia Fleury and Amber Peabody; and sophomores Alia Randt, Lauryn Ankeny, Olivia Danielson, Carly Jergenson, Kendall Danielson and Jayda Kolstoe.

Minnewaska 58, Monte 13

The Lakers earned a 58-13 victory at home over Montevideo last Tuesday night.  Minnewaska Area led 33-10 at halftime before holding Montevideo to just three points in the second half.

Lauryn Ankeny hit a 3-pointer for the Lakers’ first points and Sydney Dahl scored four-straight to give the Lakers an early 7-0 lead.

Addy Kath scored off a nice feed from Jayda Kolstoe for a 9-2 lead and baskets by Kolstoe and Dahl inside increased the Laker lead to 13-4 forcing Montevideo to call a timeout with 10:00 left in the first half.

Immediately after the timeout, Alia Randt connected on a 3-pointer and Dahl made a nice basket inside to push the Lakers’ lead to 20-5 with 8:12 left in the first half.

Minnewaska Area continued its defensive pressure, outscoring the Thunderhawks 13-5 the rest of the first half and 25-3 in the second half to end the game with a 58-13 victory.

Defense proved to be the key to victories in the first two games, but the Laker offense was in full gear against the Thunderhawks.

Minnewaska Area ended the game with 19 steals and 24 deflections, but also shot 38 percent from the field (24-of-63), including 7-of-19 on 3-pointers (36 percent).

Minnewaska Area, which turned the ball over just 10 times, also went 3-of-5 from the line.

Sydney Dahl had a great game for the Lakers with 16 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots, while Megan Thorfinnson added 10 points, six steals and two boards.

Minnewaska Area had nine players hit the scoring column as Lauryn Ankeny had seven points, three rebounds and two steals, Alia Randt had seven points and four boards, Avery Fier had six points and two rebounds, Addy Kath had four points and four rebounds, Olivia Danielson also had four points along with four boards, four assists and two steals, and Jayda Kolstoe and Kendall Danielson each scored two points.

Montevideo won last year’s WCC title, but graduated the league MVP from the last two seasons, Avery Koenen.

at Waska 58, Monte 13

Monte (2-2) 10 3 — 13

Waska (3-0) 33 25 — 58

WASKA stats:  24-63 FG (7-19 3pt); 3-5 FT; 11 assists; 7 blocked shots; 28 rebounds; 19 steals; 12 fouls; 10 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 16, Megan Thorfinnson 10, Lauryn Ankeny 7, Alia Randt 7, Avery Fier 6, Addy Kath 4, Olivia Danielson 4, Jayda Kolstoe 2, Kendall Danielson 2 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 5, O. Danielson 4, Randt 4, Kath 4, Ankeny 3, Kolstoe 2, Thorfinnson 2, Fier 2 . . . Assists:  O. Danielson 4, Randt 2 . . . Steals:  Thorfinnson 6, Kath 3, Kolstoe 3, O. Danielson 2, Ankeny 2 . . . Blocks:  Dahl 5

MONTE stats:   Scoring:  Teagan Epema 6, Brooke Lindeman 4, Lily Eisenlohr 3 . . . Reb:  Hallie Helgeson 6 . . . Other stats not available

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!