The Mitchell Christian girls' basketball team opened its 2007 season Thursday with a 61-19 loss to Wolsey-Wessington in Wolsey.
The Golden Eagles knew it would be a rebuilding year after losing their top four leading scorers and rebounders, including Jill Young, South Dakota's all-time leading scorer. Thursday's opener showed there will be growing pains as the young Golden Eagles team continues to develop throughout the season.
"It will take a few games with our youth, but it will get better than tonight," MCHS head coach George Erdahl said Thursday. "For four of these girls, this was their first varsity action.
However, it was one of MCHS's younger players, freshman center Mariah Nelson, that led the team with seven points. Sydney VanLaecken, the team's lone senior, added six for the Golden Eagles, who Erdahl said were hurt by missed free throws, unforced turnovers and early foul trouble.
"We got in foul trouble, and without many people on the bench, it's hard to play when you're in foul trouble," Erdahl said.
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But while the Golden Eagles battled their inexperience, Erdahl also said Wolsey-Wessington was a strong team.
"They've got some good players," he said. "They knocked down some threes early. They pushed the tempo on us a little bit. They've got a good team, and we just did some things we need to improve on each week.
"If we cut down on turnovers and hit some open shots, we'll be in the game and have a shot to win."
MCHS will host Freeman Saturday at 7 p.m.
Hanson 67, Bridgewater/Emery 31
EMERY -- Hanson improved to 2-0 Thursday to open the season, cruising to a 67-31 victory over Bridgewater/Emery.
The Beavers, which shot 55 percent from the field and from 3-point range, got 16 points from Amanda Hart. Rhianna Gullickson had 12 points, while Amanda Murray had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Beavers turned the ball over just six times in the contest.
Bridgewater/Emery shot 31 percent from the field, but failed to hit a shot from beyond the arc. Jessie VanLeur led the Huskies with 10 points.
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Hanson is now 1-0 in the Cornbelt Conference, while Bridgewater/Emery fell to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
The Huskies will play at Hurley on Tuesday, and Hanson will be at Parkston on Monday.
Hanson 16 37 53 67
Bridge./Emery 13 18 26 31
Colome 56, Andes Central 41
LAKE ANDES -- Collene Cahoy had 21 points Thursday as Colome earned its second win of the week, a 56-41 victory over Andes Central.
Claire Beck had 12 points and Alisyn Graesser had 10 for Colome, which made a killing at the free throw line. The Cowgirls hit 17-of-28 attempts, while Andes Central was 7-for-15.
The Eagles got 11 points from Jenna Winckler and 10 from Amy Chytka.
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The Cowgirls are 2-0 on the season, and will play at home on Saturday. Andes Central is 1-1, and will host Hurley tonight.
Colome 12 27 40 56
Andes Central 17 22 31 41
Platte-Geddes 72, Dakota Christian 37
PLATTE -- Terri VerSteeg had 22 points and 10 rebounds Thursday to lead Platte-Geddes to a 72-37 win over Dakota Christian.
The Black Panthers shot 52 percent from the field and made 8-of-11 free throws. Alex Hirt added 11 points, Austin Taylor had 10 and Rachel Sternberg had six assists.
Dakota Christian struggled shooting the ball. The Cadets were 16-of-53 from the field, they made just 1-of-14 3-pointers, and were 4-for-17 from the charity stripe. Alyssa Veurink had nine points and Magen Vogt had eight for DC, which was also out-rebounded 49-25.
Platte-Geddes, which is now 1-0, will host Kimball Tuesday. Dakota Christian plays at Gregory on Tuesday. The Cadets are 0-2.
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Dakota Christian 13 19 24 37
Platte-Geddes 14 36 57 72
Woonsocket 45, Hitchcock-Tulare 27
TULARE -- Woonsocket came up with a win in its season opener, beating Hitchcock-Tulare 45-27.
Molly Rounds scored 18 points to lead the Redmen. Amber Schmidt had 12 points and eight rebounds, Kelsey Schmidt had eight points and Sam Uttecht had seven assists and six rebounds.
Woonsocket was 20-for-39 from the floor and 2-for-5 from the free throw line, and had 28 rebounds.
Jessica Nowell had nine points to lead Hitchcock-Tulare. Marissa Marshall had nine rebounds and six steals.
Woonsocket is 1-0 on the year, and will take on White Lake Monday.
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Woonsocket 14 18 35 45
Hitchcock-Tulare 8 19 25 27
Freeman 43, Montrose 30
MONTROSE -- Freeman held Montrose to just 11 points in the second and third quarters combined on its way to a 43-30 victory.
Hillary Stern scored 14 points and Dayna Peterson added 12 more for the Flyers, who are now 1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Hillary Paulson, Rachel Preheim and Peterson all grabbed seven rebounds.
Paula and Katie Kappenman each scored eight points to lead the Irish, who shot just 29 percent from the field and the free-throw line.
Montrose is now 0-1 overall and in conference and hosts Lake Preston on Tuesday.
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Freeman plays at Mitchell Christian on Saturday.
Freeman 12 20 33 43
Montrose 12 17 23 30
Canistota 30, Marion 27
MARION -- Jordan Luke scored 11 points and recorded nine steals to lead Canistota to a 30-27 victory over Marion.
Jasmine Marshall grabbed eight rebounds and Brooke DeKramer had three assists for the Hawks, who are 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference.
Canistota grabbed 31 total rebounds and committed 18 fouls and 18 turnovers.
Cara Schardin led the Bears with eight points and five assists. Megan Herlyn had nine rebounds and Sydney and Baylee Smith each had three steals.
Marion had 10 turnovers and snagged 27 rebounds. It is 0-2 overall and 0-1 in conference and will play at Viborg on Tuesday.
Canistota 9 17 28 30
Marion 9 13 22 27
Viborg 45, Freeman Academy 27
FREEMAN -- Viborg was able to capitalize on 41 Freeman Academy turnovers in its 45-27 win.
Alyssa Kraning scored 16 points and had nine rebounds and Sage Knutson scored 11 points for Viborg.
Lori Rensink scored 10 points and grabbed 10 boards and Rachel Carlson had eight points and eight rebounds to lead the Bobcats.
Freeman Academy and Viborg each had 38 total rebounds.
Viborg is 1-1 and the Bobcats are 0-1. They will host Oldham-Ramona-Rutland on Tuesday.
Viborg 13 22 33 45
Freeman Acad 2 7 13 27
Highmore 53, Crow Creek 41
HIGHMORE -- Highmore pulled away from Crow Creek in the third quarter and held the lead for a 53-41 win Thursday night in Highmore.
Logan Cowan led Highmore with a game-high 24 points. Baily Kusser added nine points as no other Highmore player reached double figures in the win.
The home team overcame 34 turnovers in the first game of the season for both teams.
A pair of Crow Creek teammates reached double figures. Ashley Hall led the team with 14 points and Ellison Last Horse joined her in double-digits with 12.
Highmore was 20-for-52 from the floor and 11-for-25 from the free throw line. Crow Creek shot just 29 percent (15-for-51) from the field and 9-for-25 from the free throw line.
Crow Creek won the JV game, 44-26.
Highmore 10 19 38 53
Crow Creek 8 15 24 44
Colman-Egan 63, Chester 41
COLMAN -- Colman-Egan used a huge fourth quarter to pull away from Chester for a 63-41 win.
Chester only trailed by eight heading into the final quarter, but C-E out-scred the visitors 24-10 in the fourth to earn the win.
Morgan May led C-E with 13 points, Cami Koehn added 12 and Kylee Westover and Lexie Foster each added 10.
Kelsey Backus led Chester with 12 points and Jill Schaefer added 11.
Colman-Egan 13 23 39 63
Chester 7 18 31 41
