Kernel girls top Watertown 63-26

WATERTOWN — After knocking off top-ranked Aberdeen Central Friday night, third-ranked Mitchell showed no signs up letting up against Watertown Saturday in the Civic Arena in Watertown.

The Kernels raced to a big lead to start the game and never looked back en route to a 63-26 Eastern South Dakota Conference girls basketball win over the Arrows.

With the win, Mitchell ran its win streak to 10 straight and improved to 15-2 overall and 11-1 in the ESD. The Arrows slipped to 4-13 and 4-7.

“Mitchell is a very good team and they’re playing with a lot of confidence and focus right now,” Watertown coach Pat McClemans said. “Coming off that big win against Aberdeen (Friday), I thought Wes (Morgan) had his kids ready to go again (Saturday). It could have been very easy for them to have a letdown but that didn’t happen.”

The Kernels took advantage of a number of early turnovers by the Arrows and raced to a 10-0 lead to start the game. Watertown finally got on the board with 4:30 left in the first quarter when Ashtin McClemans connected on a field goal but the Kernels were just getting started.

Mitchell put up 22 points in the opening quarter — most of them coming on transition baskets — and led by 15 at the first break.

The Kernels widened the gap in the second quarter by scoring the first eight points to grab a 30-7 advantage.

Shayli Kirsch buried two 3-pointers in the quarter and scored all six of Watertown¹s points in the quarter. Kirsch finished with nine of the Arrows’ 13 points in the first half.

“I thought both teams were working really hard,” said Mitchell coach Wes Morgan. “After a hard-fought win against Aberdeen (Friday), I was pleased with our effort.”

Mitchell didn’t let up in the second half and scored 19 points in the third quarter to lead 55-19, heading into the final eight minutes.

The combination of size and athleticism proved to be too much for the Arrows to handle all game long.

“Their length bothered us a lot tonight and it bothers a lot of people,” said McClemans after the game. “They were able to get in the passing lane and get some steals, which resulted in several easy transition baskets. We have to clean up those turnovers if we want to get any better.”

Macy Miller, a 6-foot junior guard, scored a game-high 14 points for the Kernels. Kerri Young, a 6-foot senior forward, added 11 points and five rebounds and Kristen Sabers, a 6-0 senior forward, contributed nine points and five rebounds. Courtney Moore chipped in with eight points and Taylor Volesky ripped down six rebounds.

“I thought our defense was pretty good tonight and our transition game was even better,” said Morgan. “I like where we are at right now. We have some good athletes and they are smart and unselfish. I’m happy for this team, and I do hope Watertown continues to have success.”

Kirsch finished with 12 points — all coming on 3-pointers — to lead the Arrows. Mandy Tetzlaff added seven points and six rebounds.

The Kernels travel to play Sioux Falls Lincoln at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

MITCHELL 63

WATERTOWN 26

Mitchell (15-2, 11-1 ESD)

Berkley Rietveld 0-2 0-0 0, Megan Farnham 3-6 1-2 7, Torrie Michels 2-4 0-0

5, Macy Miller 5-8 4-5 14, Emma Schmidt 1-2 0-0 3, Courtney Moore 4-5 0-0 8,

Taylor Volesky 2-3 0-2 4, Kerri Young 4-8 3-3 11, Shelly Iburg 1-2 0-0 2,

Kristin Sabers 4-5 0-0 9. Totals 26-45 8-12 63.

Watertown (4-13, 4-7 ESD)

Shayli Kirsch 4-8 0-0 12, Elli Stevenson 1-9 0-0 2, Danielle Gottsleben 0-1

0-0 0, Molly DeSpiegler 0-1 0-0 0, Danielle Duncan 0-1 0-0 0, Emily Pengilly

0-2 0-0 0, Ashtin McClemans 1-4 0-0 2, McKenzie Werner 0-3 0-0 0, Mandy

Tetzlaff 3-10 1-2 7, RaeDawn Montreal 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 10-45 1-2 26.

Mitchell 22 36 55 63

Watertown 7 13 19 26

Three-point goals: Mitchell 3-4 (Sabers 1-1, Michels 1-1, Schmidt 1-1,

Young 0-1), Watertown 5-7 (Kirsch 4-4, Duncan 1-1, Stevenson 0-2). Total

Fouls: Mitchell 11, Watertown 14. Fouled out: None. FG Shooting: Mitchell

26-45 (58 percent), Watertown 10-45 (22 percent). Rebounds: Mitchell 36

(Volesky 6), Watertown 16 (Tetzlaff 6). Turnovers: Mitchell 13, Watertown

15.

JV: Mitchell 57-46. Torrie Michels and Taylor Volesky scored 15 points apiece.

Sophomores: Watertown 33-30. Hallie Misiaszek and Kaley Nolz each had 11 points for the Kernels.

Freshmen: Watertown 47-32. Erin Farnham scored 13 points.

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