DELANO 56, HOWARD LAKE-WAVERLY-WINSTED 44
The first game of the Minnesota high school season tipped off Thanksgiving Wednesday afternoon with Highway 12 neighbors Delano hosting Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted. Both these teams once up a time belonged to the Wright County Conference. The schools in that conference got bigger so HLWW moved to the Central Minnesota Conference. Today it was the bigger (AAA) school topping the smaller (AA). The Tigers had three players in double figures led by freshman Kalia Young with 18. The Lakers’ Alexa Schumann led all scorers with 22 but she didn’t have a lot of assistance in the scoring department. After guard CJ Decker’s 11, the rest of the Lakers delivered 11 more points.
Neither team was scintillating from the floor with HLWW connecting on 31% of their 2s; and Delano checking in with 35.7%. With both teams operating in zones there were some open looks from 3. The Tigers connected for nine with Ellie Norling leading the way going 4/5. The Lakers delivered four 3s total. Neither team shot well at the line with HLWW attempting 24 and converting 14 (58%) and Delano trying 20 and making 9 (45%).
Delano led at the half 27-17. The Lakers struggled in that half with a 48.6 pp100. Once the clock got shorter, they increased their defensive efforts and made quicker offensive choices. HLWW for the game ended up with a 64.7. Delano had a steady, not flashy 77.1 to start the game and concluded up 81.2. Young had 10 points at the break. Schumann had 9.
In the second half HLWW cut the lead to 39-33 with about 8 minutes left after a three by CJ Decker. Olivia Jaunich, who was on the bench during this Laker surge, returned to action and Delano responded with eight unanswered points in their next three possessions (47-33). The threat was over, and Delano decided to draw the Lakers out of their zone. At the widest Delano led 51-34 (17 points). The Lakers, being more aggressive on offense, outscored the hosts 10-5 in the last 2:30 of the game.
Two Tigers fouled out in the contest while one Laker picked up five fouls.
| DELANO | HLWW | |
| POINTS | 56 | 44 |
| REBOUNDS | 45 (19 OFF) | 36 (11 OFF) |
| TURNOVERS | 20 | 22 |
| FG% | 35.7% | 31% |
| FREE THROW ATTEMPTS | 20 (45%) | 24 (58.3%) |
TRENCH PLAYER: Olivia Jaunich of Delano gets the first nod of the year thanks to a double/double of 16 points and an impressive 19 d stops. Her 31 Club score ended up at 36 for the day plus her pp100 checked in at 106.7, one of three Tigers over the century mark.