The Grundy Center girls and #8(2A) Spartan boys basketball teams defended their fortress valiantly with a NICL crossover doubleheader sweep of Sumner-Fredricksburg on Friday. The Spartan girls pulled away in the second half to win 43-22 and the boys to a double digit lead early and never took their foot off the gas to earn a 79-43 win, as aired on 99 The Wave.
In the girls game, both teams struggled to take the lid off the hoop in the first quarter, as the Spartans were able to step out to a 14-9 advantage. Cold shooting continued in the second, as the teams combined for 10 points total as the Spartans held on to a 18-15 lead entering the break. The Spartans offense expanded their advantage putting up 25 points in the second half. The Spartans defense contained and frustrated the Cougars offense by forcing 23 turnovers in the game and held them to just seven points total in the second half, to secure the home win.
Grundy Center Head Coach Matt Lindeman on the team’s defensive effort and part two of a back to back.
“The girls did a really good job of executing the game plan that we had. We contested every shot, contested every drive that they were attempting to do, then it got even better in the second half,” says Lindeman. “Offensively, we got ourselves going a little bit more in the second half. I think we had four points in the second quarter. Obviously have to do better from the offensive end. Really pleased how our girls played here tonight. Back to back games, it’s hard to do and glad to get out of here with a win.”
Three Spartan girls finished in double figures including Karlee Lynch with 14 points, Kali Aldrich with 12 points and Raelyn Steinmeyer with 11 points including three triples.
In the boys game, the Spartans sprinted out to a 29-9 first quarter lead through quality ball movement and aided by a 16 point opening frame by Brayden Wallis. The Spartans held the Cougars to another single digit scoring quarter and extended their lead to 49-18 at the half. The Spartans transition game really took off in the second half as the driving lanes opened up to extend the lead to 30 points at 60-30 at the end of the third and led by as many as 36 before the final buzzer to remain undefeated.
Spartan Head Coach Brent Thoren on the competitiveness of the team on both ends of the floor.
“You just have a bunch of guys that have played a lot of basketball together for a long period of time. How we share the ball and just collectively how we play defense. We continue over the season to get better defensively with our communication, especially tonight against a really good Sumner-Fred team, that posed a lot of different challenges for us,” says Thoren. “Can’t say enough good things about our kids, just how they compete on both ends of the floor and getting out transition. I think that our kids just share the ball so well. The stat line with four of our five starters in double figures, there’s dividends to that and to sharing as well. A lot of good things to take away from this, but some things to work on as well.”
Four of five starters for the Spartans ended the night in double figures scoring, led by Brayden Wallis with 19 points including three triples, Tiernan Vokes had 17 points, Ryker Thoren put up 14 points and Judd Jirovsky added 11 points.
The Grundy Center girls (7-4, 3-0 NICL-West) and the Grundy Center boys (9-0, 3-0 NICL-West) will return to the court at Hudson on Monday.
