Girls basketball: Superlarks knock off Rebels

Published 9:20 pm Tuesday, February 27, 2018

ROCHESTER – The No. 5 seeded Grand Meadow girls basketball team knocked off No. 12 Southland 64-37 in a Section 1A quarterfinal game in Mayo Civic Center Tuesday.

After Southland’s McKendry Kennedy hit a three-pointer to pull Southland (6-17 overall) within 35-27 early in the second half, the Superlarks (22-5 overall) used an 18-4 surge to ice the game. GM’s Jordyn Glynn had a big overall impact on the contest as she racked up 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and eight steals.

Grand Meadow’s Riley Queensland reaches for a high pass over Southland’s McKendry Kennedy during the first half of a Section 1A quarterfinal game Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“We were excited to be back here and play on the court,” Glynn said. “We know how we can play and we wanted to play our style. We wanted to speed them up but still stay in control.”

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GM struggled with turnovers early in the contest, but once it took control it was able to get going in the open court.

“We just had to get in our game-plan and our flow,” GM head coach Ryan Queensland said. “Once we settled down and got into a rhythm, things picked up. Southland’s a great team and they played really hard tonight.”

Southland’s Kelsey Mensink shoots off the drive against Grand Meadow in the Section 1A Tournament Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Southland jumped out to an 8-4 lead early on as both teams struggled with turnovers, but GM answered with a 13-2 run to go up 17-10 with 7:40 left in the first half. That rally saw Masie Voigt convert a pair of lay-ups and Glynn convert a three-point play.

Voigt finished with 11 points off the bench for GM.

“It was fun being the higher seed here,” Voigt said. “I knew some of the starters were in foul trouble early and I needed to step up.”

Southland’s Lexi Smith looks to pass after recovering a lose ball against Grand Meadow in a Section 1A quarterfinal game Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

GM will now play No. 1 seeded Lyle-Pacelli in a Section 1A semifinal in Mayo Civic Center Saturday at 11 a.m. LP swept the regular season series from GM.

Kennedy led Southland with 13 points and Bri Johnson added six points and 12 rebounds.

Southland’s McKendry Kennedy leaps and passes over Grand Meadow’s Jordyn Glynn during the first half of a Section 1A quarterfinal matchup Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Southland 22  15  –  37

GM 28  36  –  64

GM scoring: Jordyn Glynn, 16; Skylar Cotten, 12; Masie Voigt, 11; Kaitlyn Hilton, 9; Riley Queensland, 8; Allie Sloan, 6; Meghan Eastlee, 2; free throws: 100 percent (5-for-5); rebounds: 33 (Hilton, 8); turnovers: 17

Southland scoring: McKendry Kennedy, 13; Lexi Smith, 8; Bri Johnson, 6; Kelsey Mensink, 6; Chelsey Kasel, 2; Larissa Goslee, 2; free throws: 31 percent (4-for-13); rebounds: 28 (Johnson, 12); turnovers: 18

Southland’s Larissa Goslee tries to chase down a lose ball against Grand Meadow in the Section 1A Tournament quarterfinals Tuesday night in Rochester. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com