The Minnewaska Area Lakers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-29 victory at Morris Area-CA, Friday night.

The Lakers had fallen to Sauk Centre, Dec. 7 (54-53) and to New London-Spicer, Dec. 12 (56-51) in a pair of close games against area foes, so the win over Morris Area-CA not only renewed the confidence of the young Laker girls team, but also raised its overall record to 4-2 and conference mark to 3-1.

The Lakers are set to play a pair of non-conference road games this week, beginning with a game at Paynesville, Tuesday (tomorrow) and at BBE, Thursday.

Sauk Centre 54, Waska 53

The Lakers dropped their first game of the season during a 54-53 home loss to Sauk Centre, Thursday, Dec. 7.  Minnewaska Area led 27-26 at halftime before being outscored 28-26 in the second half.

The Lakers shot 38 percent from the field (20-for-52), including just 4-of-20 from 3-point range.  Minnewaska Area had the last shot with under eight seconds to go, but was unable to connect for the win.

Sydney Dahl and Addy Kath had big games for the Lakers.  Dahl had 12 points and four rebounds, while Kath had 12 points, four boards and two steals.

While they were a combined 10-of-17 from the field, the rest of the team was a combined 10-of-35.  “We had two of our starters (Addy Kath and Lauryn Ankeny) in foul trouble for most of the game which we missed heavily throughout the game,” coach Sidney Barker said.  “We couldn’t regain the momentum once Sauk got going.” 

Megan Thorfinnson chipped in with nine points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals for Minnewaska Area, while Lauryn Ankeny had six points, two boards and three steals, Jayda Kolstoe had six points and a team-high six rebounds, Alia Randt had five points and two steals, and Avery Fier had three points and three boards.

“We were successful when we increased our defensive pressure to force turnovers, get loose balls and rebounds, but foul trouble ultimately really hurt us.”

NLS 56, Minnewaska 51

The Lakers lost their second-straight close game, this time to the visiting NLS Wildcats, 56-51.  Minnewaska trailed 25-21 after a low-scoring first half before being outscored 31-30 in a busier second half.

Megan Thorfinnson and Lauryn Ankeny had big nights for the Lakers, but no other player could get things going offensively.

Thorfinnson was 7-of-14 from the field on the way to a game-high 21 points, two rebounds and three steals, while Ankeny was 7-of-12 from the field and scored 17 points while adding five boards and four steals.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team was 5-of-29 from the field, including 0-of-6 on 3-pointers as Thorfinnson had her team’s only 3-pointers of the night, going 4-for-9 from long range.

Overall, the Lakers shot 34 percent from the field (19-for-55), including 4-of-15 from 3-point range.  Minnewaska was also 9-of-15 from the line.

Sydney Dahl added five points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Lakers, while Addy Kath had two points, five boards and three steals, Olivia Danielson had two points and seven rebounds, and Alia Randt and Avery Fier were both 1-of-2 from the field on the way to two points.

Minnewaska Area had 23 total rebounds, while NLS had 42 rebounds from its top four players combined.

Waska 70, Morris-CA 29

The Lakers raced out to a 36-9 halftime lead and never looked back during a 70-29 victory at Morris Area-CA, Friday night.

Minnewaska, which shot 50 percent from the field (27-of-54), recorded 16 steals and also went 12-of-21 from the line during one of its most-balanced games of the season.

Sydney Dahl led four Lakers in double figures with 16 points and three rebounds, while Avery Fier was 6-of-6 from the field on the way to 12 points, Addy Kath also had 12 points along with three assists and three rebounds and Megan Thorfinnson added 11 points, two assists, four rebounds and four steals.

Lauryn Ankeny had another great all-around game with eight points, two rebounds and six steals, while Olivia Danielson chipped in with six points and two boards, Jayda Kolstoe had three points and two rebounds, and Alia Randt ended with two points, four rebounds and three steals.

Sauk Cen 54, at Waska 53

Sauk Cen 26 28 — 54

Waska (3-1) 27 26 — 53

WASKA stats:  20-52 FG (4-20 3pt); 9-14 FT; 6 assists; 2 blocks; 26 rebounds; 12 steals; 17 fouls; 11 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 12, Addy Kath 12, Megan Thorfinnson 9, Lauryn Ankeny 6, Jayda Kolstoe 6, Alia Randt 5, Avery Fier 3 . . . Rebounding:  Kolstoe 6, Kath 4, Olivia Danielson 4, Dahl 4, Fier 3, Ankeny 2, Thorfinnson 2 . . . Steals:  Ankeny 3, Thorfinnson 2, Kath 2, Randt 2

SC stats:   Stats not available

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NLS 56, at Minnewaska 51

NLS 25 31 — 56

Waska (3-2) 21 30 — 51

WASKA stats:  19-55 FG (4-15 3pt); 9-15 FT; 6 assists; 7 blocked shots, 23 rebounds; 12 steals; 15 fouls; 18 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Megan Thorfinnson 21, Lauryn Ankeny 17, Sydney Dahl 5, Addy Kath 2, Alia Randt, 2, Avery Fier 2, Olivia Danielson 2 . . . Rebounding:  Danielson 7, Ankeny 5, Kath 5, Dahl 2, Thorfinnson 2 . . . Assists:  Dahl 2 . . . Steals:  Ankeny 4, Thorfinnson 3, Kath 3, Dahl 2 . . . Blocks:  Dahl 2, Ankeny 2

NLS:   Scoring:  Ava Carlson 19, Delaney Hanson 12, Ayla Caskey 10,Taylor Munsch 9 . . . Reb:  Barney 13, Katelyn Delzer 12 . . . Other stats not available

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Waska 70, at Morris-CA 29

Waska (4-2) 36 34 — 70

Morris Area 9 20 — 29

WASKA stats:  27-54 FG (4-10 3pt); 12-21 FT; 11 assists; 5 blocked shots; 22 rebounds; 16 steals; 8 fouls; 15 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 16, Avery Fier 12, Addy Kath 12, Megan Thorfinnson 11, Lauryn Ankeny 8, Olivia Danielson 6, Jayda Kolstoe 3, Alia Randt 2 . . . Reb:  Thorfinnson 4, Randt 4, Kath 3, Dahl 3, Kolstoe 2, Danielson 2, Ankeny 2 . . . Assists:  Kath 3, Danielson 2, Thorfinnson 2 . . . Steals:  Ankeny 6, Thorfinnson 4, Randt 3 . . . Blocks:  Ankeny 2

MORRIS:   Stats not available

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