County rivals will collide Tuesday when the Grundy Center basketball teams host Gladbrook-Reinbeck to begin NICL-West play.
It’ll be the first action in a week for the Spartans, which were scheduled to compete in a postponed doubleheader at Hudson Friday. At 1-1, the girls are coming off a 32-30 loss to #8 (2A) Denver. Head Coach Matt Lindeman credits his team for its ferocious defense through the first two games.
“It starts up front without a doubt, what Maddie Hendershot, Kali Aldrich and Karlee Lynch do in our press up front, Cat Brown as well, just continue to cause chaos,” Lindeman says. “And doing that in an organized fashion, but try to make the opponent uncomfortable, make them play faster than they want to and help create mistakes. I thought inside as well, Ava Mundt has done a great job being physical. And we’ve got a number of sophomores, so they’re learning what that varsity level is like and, you know, Paige Venenga has done a nice job as well as a senior.”
Ava Mundt and Karlee Lynch are each averaging 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
#13 (1A) Gladbrook-Reinbeck is 2-0 following blowouts of Sumner-Fredericksburg and Columbus Catholic. Three players average double digit scoring, led by Kennedy Brant’s 19.0 points per game.
1-0 teams will meet in the boys game. The Spartans are coming off last week’s 81-46 win over Denver, where they created separation in the second half to pull away. Jalen Kirkpatrick led with 25 points and Judd Jirovsky scored 20 off the bench.
The Rebels defeated Sumner-Fredericksburg 54-36 in Friday’s season opener, where they were crisp in committing just eight turnovers. Michael Boyd led with 14 points.
The doubleheader will begin at 6:15 p.m.
