The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team had a pair of impressive wins during the holiday break, beating Minneota in a game played Dec. 27 at SMSU, 70-41, and also routing WCC nemesis West Central Area at home, Friday, 68-33.

The two wins raised the Lakers’ record to 8-2 and conference mark to 3-1, putting the team in a second-place tie with BOLD behind Sauk Centre (2-0).

The Lakers have three games scheduled for this week, beginning with a game at Rocori, Monday, and continuing with a home game against Benson, Tuesday (tomorrow) and a game at Litchfield, Friday.

•  This year’s Minnewaska Area varsity roster includes seniors Addy Kath, Lauren Stryhn, Sydney Dahl, Megan Thorfinnson and Amber Peabody; juniors Alia Randt, Lauryn Ankeny, Olivia Danielson, Aubrey Stark, Carly Jergenson, Kendall Danielson, Phemie Oeltjen and Jayda Kolstoe; sophomores Norah VanZee, Eliana Marthaler, Haillie Schulz and Claira Frey; and ninth-grader Berlynn Green.

Waska 70, Minneota 41

The Lakers improved to 7-2 overall with a 70-41 victory over Minneota in a game played at SMSU in Marshall, Friday, Dec. 27.

The Lakers led 48-23 at halftime before outscoring the Vikings 22-18 in the second half.

Sydney Dahl led a balanced offensive attack for the Lakers with 12 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Jayda Kolstoe added 10 points and four boards and Olivia Danielson had 10 points, four assists, three rebounds and six steals.

The Lakers shot 36 percent from the field (32-for-87), but were only 3-of-19 from three-point range and 3-of-8 on free-throws.

Minneota however, got off just 36 field goal attempts for the game, compared to 87 for the Lakers, due to Minnewaska’s strong defense, which caused Minneota to turn the ball over 33 times, while the Lakers had just nine turnovers.

Another key to the win were 24 steals, including six each by Lauryn Ankeny and Danielson.

Addy Kath chipped in with nine points, two assists, two rebounds and three steals for the Lakers, while Alia Randt had eight points, four rebounds and four steals, and Ankeny also had eight points along with six boards and six steals.

In addition, Megan Thorfinnson had seven points, two assists and two rebounds for Minnewaska Area, and Berlynn Green, Norah VanZee and Carly Jergenson added two points each.

Waska 68, WCA 33

Megan Thorfinnson, Sydney Dahl and Olivia Danielson combined for 50 points to lead the Lakers to a 68-33 home win over WCA, Friday night.  

Minnewaska led 48-12 at halftime before settling for the 35-point victory

Thorfinnson had 19 points and four steals to lead the Laker offense, going 7-for-9 from the field, while Dahl had 17 points and seven rebounds, and Olivia Danielson added 14 points, four boards and three steals while going 7-of-11 from the field.

The Lakers shot 44 percent (27-for-61), including 5-of-11 from three-point range.  That was one of the best shooting nights of the season for the team.

Addy Kath also had a good game with seven points, two assists and four rebounds, while Lauryn Ankeny registered five points, two boards and four steals, Alia Randt had one 3-pointer for three points, and Jayda Kolstoe also had three points.

It was the third-straight game and fifth time this season the Lakers have scored 65 or more points.

Other Lakers notes

•  Members of B-squad include juniors Aubrey Stark, Carly Jergenson, Kendall Danielson and Phemie Oeltjen; sophomores Norah VanZee, Eliana Marthaler, Haillie Schulz and Claira Frey; and ninth-grader Berlynn Green, and members of the C-squad team are ninth-graders Sydney Ankeny, Mileigh Lundebrek, Michaela Johnson, Miranda Grossman, Molly Cassidy, Hannah Hoeper and Allison Curry; and eighth-graders Cate Frey, Nori Song, Aubrey Polzin, Allie Mrnak, Maia Larson, Isabelle Wallin and Adeline Oeltjen.

Waska 70, Minneota 41

Minnewaska (7-2) 48 22 — 70

Minneota 23 22 — 45

WASKA stats:  32-87 FG (3-19 3pt); 3-8 FT; 10 assists; 3 blocks; 28 rebounds; 24 steals; 15 fouls; 9 turnovers. . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 12, Olivia Danielson 10, Jayda Kolstoe 10, Addy Kath 9, Alia Randt 8, Lauryn Ankeny 8, Megan Thorfinnson 7, Norah VanZee 2, Berlynn Green 2, Carly  Jergenson 2  . . . Rebounding:  Ankeny 6, Dahl 5, Kolstoe 4, Randt 4, Danielson 3, Kath 2, Thorfinnson 2 . . . Assists:  Danielson 4, Thorfinnson 2, Kath 2. . . Steals:  Danielson 6, Ankeny 6, Randt 4, Dahl 3, Kath 3. . . Blocks:  three with one each

MINNEOTA stats:  17-36 FG (2-8 3pt); 5-10 FT; 29 rebounds; 8 fouls; 33 turnovers . . . Other stats not available

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at Waska 68, WCA 33

WCA 12 21 — 33

Minnewaska (8-2) 48 20 — 68

WASKA stats:  27-61 FG (5-11 3pt); 9-14 FT; 6 assists; 21 rebounds; 17 steals; 8 fouls; 12 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Megan Thorfinnson 19, Sydney Dahl 17, Olivia Danielson 14, Addy Kath 7, Lauryn Ankeny 5, Alia Randt 3, Jayda Kolstoe 3 . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 7, Danielson 4, Kath 4, Ankeny 2 . . . Assists:  Kath 2 . . . Steals:  Ankeny 4, Thorfinnson 4, Danielson 3, Dahl 2

WCA stats:  11-36 FG (5-12 3pt); 6-8 FT; 23 rebounds; 11 fouls; 37 turnovers . . . Other stats NA

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