Fett scores 38 to lead LP past GM
Published 10:37 pm Thursday, February 15, 2018
GRAND MEADOW — The No. 1 ranked Lyle-Pacelli girls basketball team put the finishing touches on its fifth straight outright SEC title to close out the regular season in a 61-47 win over No. 10 ranked Grand Meadow in GM Thursday.
Senior center Kristi Fett dominated the paint for LP (25-1 overall, 13-0 SEC) as she racked up 38 points and 18 rebounds.
“Ever since the Goodhue game I’ve realized how strong I can be and I’ve been working on sealing and getting my footwork down,” Fett said. “I really need to talk with my teammates and be strong.”
Fett wasn’t a big part of the early SEC titles for LP, but she said she spent a lot of time watching those Athletics teams make their mark.
“Brooke [Walter] and Kendal [Truckenmiller] have played since they were young and we’ve had a lot of depth,” Fett said. “We learned from Madison Truckenmiller, Ann Rysavy Sarah and Annie Holtz. It really helped us to be there every day in practice and they were role models for us.”
The Superlarks (21-5 overall) took an early 9-4 lead after Riley Queensland hit back-to-back three-pointers, but LP eventually wore them down inside and built the lead to double digits. Jordyn Glynn had 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists for GM.
“I’m very proud of our girls,” GM head coach Ryan Queensland said. “They’re the No. 1 team in the state for a reason and it’s great to have this game at the end of the season. They have a great program and I was proud of how our girls never gave up and they kept playing defense.”
Olivia Christianson had 13 points, four rebounds and five assists for LP, which never led by more than 15 after it had beat GM 50-25 earlier this season.
“We struggled tonight and we certainly didn’t play our best basketball, but that’s a sign of a good team,” LP head coach Justin Morris said. “Great teams find a way to win. If you’re not making shots, you’ve got to get stops. Grand Meadow played really well and I thought they had more desire and heart than us tonight.”
Queensland said the Superlarks had a tough time matching up with the 6-5 Fett.
“It’s so hard,” he said. “Every team in the section is trying to figure out how to defend her better and you have to give her credit. She’s seen a lot of different defenses and she has to work. She’s tough to contain.”
LP will now turn its attention to the postseason, where it will likely be the top-seeded team in Section 1A next week.
“It’s playoff time,” Fett said. “Our bodies are feeling it, but our hearts our strong right now. When the playoffs come we have to put all of the little things behind us. We want to go to state and it’s not going to be an easy walk.”
LP 36 25 — 61
GM 26 21 — 47
LP scoring: Kristi Fett, 38; Olivia Christianson, 13; Kendal Truckenmiller, 9; Abby Bollingberg, 3; free throws: 44 percent (8-for-18); rebounds: 31 (Fett, 18); turnovers: 14
GM scoring: Jordyn Glynn, 12; Kaitlyn Hilton, 12; Isabelle Olson, 8; Skylar Cotten, 7; Riley Queensland, 6; Masie Voigt, 2; free throws: 75 percent (6-for-8); rebounds: 23 (Glynn, 8); turnovers: 13