Trojans fight past Rebel girls in Section 1A quarterfinal
Published 9:12 pm Monday, February 24, 2025
Southland's Clara Timm squares up against Rushford-Peterson's Ava Helgemoe in Mayo Civic Center Auditorium Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Breeley Galle passes the ball for Southland. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Southland's Emma Lewison ties up Rushford-Peterson's Emily Hegelmoe in Rochester Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Avery Stroup drives to the hoop for the Rebels against Rushford-Peterson's Alannah Skalet in Mayo Civic Auditorium Tuesday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
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ROCHESTER – The No. 5 seeded Southland girls basketball team started slow and it was never able to get completely back in it as its season ended on a 58-39 loss to No. 4 Rushford-Peterson in a Section 1A quarterfinal in Mayo Civic Auditorium Monday.
The Rebels never tied the game or held a lead in their first game in Mayo Civic Center since 2019.
The Trojans (17-9 overall) made a point of focusing on Southland 1,000 point scorer Breeley Galle and they were able to keep her in check as they held her to two points.
“We knew coming in they were going to be a tough, physical team and that’s what they did to us,” Southland head coach Matt Webber said. “Not that it’s any excuse, but Breeley was not 100 percent tonight. She was sick the last couple of days. Give her credit because her heart was there, but give Rushford credit. They played hard tonight and we got down early.”
The Rebels (17-9 overall) made a quick charge early in the second half as Avery Stroup hit a three and a pair of free throws to bring Southland within 36-27 with 15 minutes left. Juliette Matheis added an inside score to cut the gap to 36-29 with 14 minutes left.
“We didn’t give up and we fought hard; I’m proud of that,” Webber said. “That’s what these girls have learned these last few years is to never give up. We went from a six or seven win team, to an eight win team, to a 17 win team. That’s huge.”
The Trojans opened the game on a 9-0 run as Nadia Happel, who finished with 15 points, hit three straight threes in the early minutes. Happel gave R-P another momentum boost when she banked in a three to beat the halftime buzzer and give R-P a 34-18 halftime advantage.
Matheis finished with 13 points and five rebounds to lead Southland and Emma Lewison ran down nine rebounds, while scoring two points.
This was Southland’s best season in at least a decade and the team will have the bulk of its roster back next year.
“At the beginning of the year, our goal was to have a winning record and get to the Mayo Civic Center,” Webber said. “We checked both of those boxes and now they know what to expect for next year.”
The Trojans will now take a shot at top-seeded Goodhue as they will play the Wildcats at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mayo Civic Auditorium.
Rushford-Petesron 34 24 – 58
Southland 18 21 – 39
Southland scoring: Juliette Matheis, 13; Avery Stroup, 7; Brynlee Koenigs, 7; Clara Timm, 6; Breeley Galle, 2; Kennedy Felten, 2
R-P scoring: Nadia Happel, 15; Kaia Loney, 12; Torryn Schneider, 13; Emily Helgemoe, 7; Alannah Skalet, 6
