Turnover battle key for Kernel girls in perfect start to year

The starting lineup of the Mitchell girls’ basketball team is averaging five turnovers per game.

Through five games, the unbeaten Kernels have totaled 51 turnovers on the season as a team. But only 25 have come from the starting five, who are Megan Farnham, Courtney Moore, Macy Miller, Kristin Sabers and Kerri Young.

“The way we’re playing the game, getting up and down the court, it’s all about making good decisions and we’re looking to be consistent with the basketball,” Mitchell coach Wes Morgan said.

Mitchell’s largest turnover total in a game this season is 18 in their most recent win over Watertown. Coincidentally, it was also the Kernels’ largest win margin of 43 points.

The team’s average of 10 turnovers per game could be lower, but with all of Mitchell’s wins coming in dominant fashion the team’s starters haven’t played as many minutes as usual.

The four returning starters — Farnham, Young, Miller and Sabers — are all about five minutes below their season averages for minutes in a game from last season.

“We’re getting a lot of kids in and out,” Morgan said.

Last year, the Kernels averaged 11.16 turnovers in their state-championship season. Morgan said he’s shooting for the team to get down to seven to eight per game.

“That would be a nice, lofty goal,” Morgan said.

The Kernels have forced opponents into 95 turnovers (19 per game) this season. Last season, Mitchell forced its opponents into about 15 turnovers per game.

In other notable stats, Young, a senior, is leading the team in points (20) and rebounds (6.6) per game. She averaged 18.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game a year ago. Miller is averaging 14.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and Sabers is at 8 points per game.

Mitchell has shot only 36 three-point baskets on the year, making 15, a success rate of 42 percent. The Kernels are 49 percent from the field and have outrebounded their opponents 180-136 and outscored their opponents 348-166.

The team is off from game action until Jan. 4, when Mitchell goes on the road for a rematch of last year’s Class AA state championship game against Sioux Falls Washington in Sioux Falls.

Tags: sports, kernels, basketball, updates