•  Dahl becomes eighth MAHS girl to reach 1,000 points during win over BOLD

The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team stayed hot last week with a pair of conference wins.  The Lakers, who improved to 13-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference, edged BOLD in a game at Olivia last Tuesday night, 59-54, before routing Morris Area-CA in a home game, Thursday, 82-25.

During the game against BOLD, senior Sydney Dahl became the eighth girl at Minnewaska Area High School to reach 1,000 career points.  

She joins Carley Stewart (1,600 career points), Maddie Thorfinnson (1,193), Missy Kath (1,171), Bayley Pooler (1,151), Emma Thorfinnson (1,049), Christine Moen (1,037) and Misty Burns (1,035) in the exclusive 1,000-point club at MAHS.

The Lakers, who continue to be ranked eighth in state Class AA, have won nine-straight games going into this week’s homestand.  Minnewaska Area was set to host three games this week beginning with Osakis, Tuesday (tomorrow) and continuing with Montevideo, Thursday, and Wadena-DC, Friday. 

“The girls are playing very well now and the game at BOLD was a good test for us as they have a very nice team,” coach Nick Danielson said.  “The girls are really buying into playing pressure defense and learning when to trap and how to take away the passing lanes once girls are trapped.  That’s helping us get a lot of steals.

“We just have to keep getting better every time we’re on the court and be ready when we get to sections.”

Waska 59, BOLD 54

The Lakers outscored the Warriors 31-26 in the second half to earn a 59-54 road win at BOLD last Tuesday night.  It was the eighth-straight win for the Lakers, who also improved to 5-1 in the conference.

“It was a very good game,” coach Danielson said.  “We were behind for most of the first half, but tied it up at halftime.  In the second half, it went back-and-forth for the first 10 minutes and then we took a 10-point lead with about six minutes to go.

“In the last couple of minutes, they made a run and got to within four, but we held on for the victory.”

Sydney Dahl scored her 1,000th point during the game, getting the milestone basket midway through the first half and ending with 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

“Sydney scored her 1,000th point midway through the first half and ended the game with 19,” coach Danielson said.

Also scoring 19 points was Megan Thorfinnson, who was 5-of-9 from three-point range.  She also had three boards.

The Lakers shot 33 percent from the field (21-for-62), including 6-of-15 from long range.  Minnewaska Area was also 11-of-17 from the line.

BOLD, which got 18 points and 10 boards from Lainey Braulick, shot just 3-of-17 from three-point range and 34 percent overall from the field.

Lauryn Ankeny added seven points for the Lakers, while Addy Kath had six points, three assists and six rebounds, Jayda Kolstoe had four points, Olivia Danielson had two points and five assists, and Alia Randt chipped in with two points, three rebounds and three steals.

Waska 82, Morris-CA 25

The Lakers played as good of first half as they could, building a 58-4 lead against the undermanned Tiger team, Thursday night at home, before settling for an 82-25 victory.

Minnewaska Area went on a solo run of over 35 points in the first half, stretching a 23-4 lead into 58-4 with the final 35 points of the first half.  Minnewaska Area also hit a 3-pointer to start the second half to up its run to 38-0 before Morris finally scored again.

Sydney Dahl and Lauryn Ankeny led the Lakers with a combined 39 points.  Dahl had 22 points, three assists and three rebounds, shooting 9-of-12 from the field, while Lauryn Ankeny added 17 points, four assists, two boards and four steals, going 8-of-11 from the field.

The Laker defense forced Morris Area into 41 turnovers and recorded 20 steals, including seven by Megan Thorfinnson.

Minnewaska Area, which shot 47 percent from the field (33-for-69), also got 11 points and three rebounds from Addy Kath and 10 points, two boards and two steals from Alia Randt, while Olivia Danielson recorded eight points, three assists and three rebounds.

The Lakers, who shot 11-of-17 from the line, also got four points and two rebounds from Thorfinnson, four points, two assists, four rebounds and two steals from Jayda Kolstoe, four points and two rebounds from Kendall Danielson, and two points from Amber Peabody.

Waska 59, at BOLD 54

Minnewaska (12-2) 28 31 — 59

BOLD 28 26 — 54

WASKA stats:  21-62 FG (6-15 3pt); 11-17 FT; 10 assists; 4 blocks; 24 rebounds; 7 steals; 17 fouls; 14 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 19, Megan Thorfinnson 19, Lauryn Ankeny 7, Addy Kath 6, Jayda Kolstoe 4, Alia Randt 2, Olivia Danielson 2  . . . Rebounding:  Dahl 7, Kath 6, Thorfinnson 3, Randt 3, Berlynn Green 2, Danielson 2 . . . Assists:  Danielson 5, Kath 3 . . . Steals:  Randt 3 . . . Blocks:  Dahl 2

BOLD stats:  20-59 FG (3-17 3pt); 11-12 FT; 26 rebounds; 17 fouls; 19 turnovers . . .  Scoring:  Lainey Braulick 18, Emma Flann 14, Lilly Henriksen 8, Kenley Elfering 4, Kya Elfering 4 . . . Rebounding:  Braulick 10 . . . Other stats not available

————————–

at Waska 82, Morris 25

Morris Area 4 21 — 25

Minnewaska (13-2) 58 24 — 82

WASKA stats:  33-69 FG (5-14 3pt); 11-17 FT; 13 assists; 2 blocks; 24 rebounds; 20 steals; 8 fouls; 11 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 22, Lauryn Ankeny 17, Addy Kath 11, Alia Randt 10, Olivia Danielson 8, Megan Thorfinnson 4, Kendall Danielson 4, Jayda Kolstoe 4, Amber Peabody 2 . . . Rebounding:  Kolstoe 4, Kath 3, O. Danielson 3, K. Danielson 2, Thorfinnson 2, Ankeny 2, Randt 2 . . . Assists:  Ankeny 4, O. Danielson 3, Kolstoe 2 . . . Steals:  Thorfinnson 7, Ankeny 4, Randt 2, Dahl 2, Kolstoe 2

MORRIS stats:  10-37 FG (0-3 3pt); 5-11 FT; 3 assists; 24 rebounds; 7 steals; 14 fouls; 41 turnovers . . . Other stats not available

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!