G/M runners-up at Lake Region Invitational

Griggs/Midkota's run to second place at the season-opening Lake Region Invitational in Devils Lake Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 5-7, featured a hodgepodge of game situations that, with one exception, all went the Titans' way.

G/M earned a tight 49-44 win over Park River/Fordville-Lankin in the first round, with junior Kelsey Johnson carrying play with 24 points. Vanessa Vollmer also added 10 for the Titans.

The Aggies had two players in double figures, Lauren Bell (15 points) and Emma Porter (12). While PR/F-L stayed in it with 12-for-17 free-throw shooting, G/M was nearly perfect, sinking 13-of-14 to seal the win.

Friday night pitted the Titans opposite tournament hosts, the Devils Lake junior varsity. The talented younger Firebirds had several players who contributed to the inaugural Division A state championship team the previous year.

Devils Lake came out blazing in the first quarter with a 25-6 lead, but the script was flipped for the final three quarters with the Titans cutting the deficit to 11 at the half, taking the lead in the third quarter and holding on for a 60-54 rollercoaster win.

Johnson led G/M again with 18 points, and Jessa Spickler was one point shy of double digits with nine. The Titans' foul shots again were pinpoint-accurate, as they converted 17-of-21.

Janae Martinson led the JV's with 14 points, Dottie Goss added 10 and Mia Elsperger had nine points before fouling out.

In the championship game, the Benson County Wildcats established themselves as an early-season State B Tournament contender with a dominating 63-29 win.

A two-player wrecking crew for the Cats put an end to the Titans' upset designs, as Aubrey Kenner and Kaitlyn Maddock scored 23 and 19 points while hitting all six of BC's three-point shots.

Johnson had 12 points in the loss, and she was joined by Jersey Gronneberg in doubles with 10.

Lacie Fautsch added 12 points for the Wildcats, who improved to 4-0.

After the end of action, Johnson, along with Spickler, were named to the All-Tournament Team. Johnson led the Titans with 30 total rebounds, and Spickler was the top assist and steals provider with 13 and 9.

Lake Region Invitational, Devils Lake

First Round

Griggs/Midkota 49, Park River/Fordville-Lankin 44

G/M 11 13 21 4 49

PRFL 9 12 16 7 44

G/M: Kelsey Johnson 24, Vanessa Vollmer 10, Kylie Johnson 5, Jessa Spickler 5, Jersey Gronneberg 3, Kennedy Reidman 2. Totals: 16 FG, 13-14 FT, 18 fouls. Three-pointers: Kelsey Johnson, Spickler, Kylie Johnson, Gronneberg.

Park River/F-L: Lauren Bell 15, Emma Porter 12, Allison Gudmundson 7, Lilly Skibicki 7, Madi Bernhoft 2, Nora Wharam 1. Totals: 16 FG, 12-17 FT, 15 fouls. Three-pointers: None.

Semifinals

Griggs/Midkota 60, Devils Lake JV 54

G/M 6 18 25 11 60

DL 25 8 12 9 54

G/M: Kelsey Johnson 18, Spickler 9, Ruth Haugen 7, Vollmer 7, Leah Saxberg 6, Kylie Johnson 6, Gronneberg 5, Reidman 2. Totals: 20 FG, 17-21 FT, 12 fouls. Three-pointers: Vollmer, Haugen, Gronneberg.

Devils Lake JV: Janae Martinson 14, Dottie Goss 10, Mia Elsperger 9, Tenley Tripke 8, Emma Hofstad 6, Berginn Yoder 3, Chassidy Rodacker 2, Brynlee Wolf 2. Totals: 23 FG, 5-7 FT, 21 fouls. Three-pointers: Martinson 2, Elsperger. Fouled out: Elsperger.

Championship

Benson Co. 63, Griggs/Midkota 29

G/M 12 3 7 7 29

BC 22 7 23 11 63

G/M: Kelsey Johnson 12, Gronneberg 10, Saxberg 3, Spickler 2, Kylie Johnson 1, Reidman 1. Totals: 10-44 FG, 8-14 FT, 16 fouls. Three-pointer: Gronneberg.

Benson Co.: Aubrey Kenner 23, Kaitlyn Maddock 19, Lacie Fautsch 12, Addisyn Faul 5, Ella Fossen 4. Totals: 22 FG, 13-21 FT, 18 fouls. Three-pointers: Kenner 3, Maddock 3.

G/M Tournament Stats

Rebounds: Kelsey Johnson 30, Kylie Johnson 13, Spickler and Vollmer 8, Reidman 6, Gronneberg 4, Haugen 3, Saxberg and Jossy Vincent 2, Aislyn Sad 1.

Assists: Spickler 13, Vollmer 7, Kelsey Johnson 6, Gronneberg 4, Kylie Johnson 3, Reidman, Saxberg and Vincent 1.

Steals: Spickler 9, Kylie Johnson and Vollmer 8, Kelsey Johnson 6, Gronneberg and Saxberg 3, Haugen and Reidman 1.

Blocks: Reidman 2, Kylie Johnson, Spickler and Vollmer 1.