Handily defeat visiting Blackhawks; receive 6th-seed in Section 2A South
Mountain Lake Area (MLA) was #Madelia Strong! – in support of the nearby community and its citizens whose main business street was recently devastated by fire – at the MLA Wolverine Girls Basketball home game with the Madelia Blackhawks on Monday, February 22.
The recognition was spearheaded by Mountain Lake Public School’s District Secretary Alisa Nickel, and included:
+ A “Welcome” banner signed by the entire staff/student body.
+ Free admittance to the games for Madelia fans.
+ A donation box at the front entrance.
+ #Madelia Strong! support stickers for the public to wear.
+ Presentation of a basketball to the girls team and coaches that was autographed by the Wolverine girls – and boys – basketball squads.
The game, meanwhile, had MLA dominating with start-to-finish, using pressure on Blackhawk ball-handlers to turn steals into layups. The final buzzer saw MLA taking the non-conference contest, 68 to 19. At the half, the Wolverines were comfortably in the lead at 40 to 7.
Senior guard Signey Stoesz notched 20 points, and also registered five steals and handed out four assists. Junior forward Liana Blomgren tallied 13 points and grabbed 10 boards and senior guard Chanah Brandt chipped in 12 points and nabbed seven steals.
MLA girls 6th in Section 2A South
The MLA girls (13-8) were seeded sixth in South Section 2A, and will take on United South Central (16-7) in Wells on Saturday, February 27 at 7 p.m. The winner of that game will take on the #2-seed, Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman (19-4), and the winner of the Thursday, February 25 pigtail game between #7-seed Springfield (9-16) and Madelia (1-22), the 10th seed, on Thursday, March 3, at Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial High School in Lake Crystal with tip-off at 7:45 p.m. The #1-seed in Section 2A is Mankato Loyola (20-4).
Below are is a photo gallery of MLA’s #Madelia Strong! support, along with snaps from the first half of the game:
#MADELIA STRONG! SIGNS on the front doors welcomed fans to the Mountain Lake Public School auditorium/gymnasium at the Monday night, February 22 Wolverine girls basketball game as Mountain Lake Area teams highlighted this community’s support for the city.
A SIGNED “WELCOME” banner for Madelia players, coaches and fans with words of encouragement.
MEMBERS OF THE MLA Wolverine Boys Basketball squad manned the donation box in the auditorium foyer, and distributed #Madelia Strong! stickers for the public to wear. Taking this shift are Mountain Lake Public High School junior Sam Grev, left and Mountain Lake Christian senior Dustin Klassen, right.
THE STICKERS – with hands reaching out to help, in the orange-and-black school colors of Madelia High School – featured the hashtag sentiment, “#Madelia Strong!”, along with the thought, “I helped! You can too!” The stickers were made by the Mountain Lake Public High School Desktop Publishing class of Donna Peterson.
PRIOR TO THE tip-off of the varsity game, MLA tri-captains at right, from left, Signey Stoesz, Bailey Swanson and Chanah Brandt, presented a basketball, signed by members of both the girls and boys basketball squads, to the Madelia Blackhawks’ captain, Mary Manriquez, left.
THE WOLVERINES USED a pressing “D” to disrupt the Blackhawks’ offense. Above, junior guard Brook Sunderman, left and senior guard Signey Stoesz, right, put a clamp on the movement of Madelia junior guard Amy Denn, center. At back right is MLA junior forward Lexia Peters.
WOLVERINE JUNIOR FORWARD Liana Blomgren, center, works to outreach the Madelia defenders, including sophomore forward Carrisa Caraway, right, to claim the rebound.
MLA PRESS MEANT another Blackhawk turnover. Wolverines on the scene include, at left, senior forward Bailey Swanson; at center, junior forward Lexia Peters and at right, senior guard Signey Stoesz.
WOLVERINE EIGHTH-GRADE guard Margo Stoesz sinks a shot from the top of the key.
AS SOPHOMORE GUARD Marta Stoesz, center, positions herself between Madelia’s sophomore center Cara Teigum, left, and the ball, her teammate, junior forward Lexia Peters, right, claims the board.
QUICK AS A flash, senior guard Chanah Brandt forced a number of turnovers – and cashed in on them – including this layup.
SOPHOMORE FORWARD JENNEEL Rodney came off the bench to score a couple quick buckets from close range under the basket.
