Lady Wolverines can’t keep pace with T-Birds
November 29th, 2007An anticipated tough season opening test proved to be just that for Sibley East’s girls’ basketball team Monday.
The Lady Wolverines couldn’t match the Thunderbirds’ balanced scoring attack and lost the non-conference clash at Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 69-30.
Nine players scored for GFW in the rout all led by standout Abby Busch who tossed in 20 points. Steph Kruggel added 14 points for the Thunderbirds.
Busch and Kruggel went to work early. Busch netted 13 first half points while Kruggel scored seven including a three-point basket.
GFW bounded to a 32-13 first half lead. Three players scored for Sibley East in the opening half all led by junior guard Renae Rose who had five points. Junior Ashley Martens and senior Brittany Trocke added four points apiece for Sibley East in the first half.
Al Ihrke’s Wolverines couldn’t dent GFW’s double digit lead in the second half. The Thunderbirds tossed in a trio of three-pointers down the stretch, two of which came off the hand of Johanna Forst.
A total of eight players scored second half baskets for GFW which outscored Sibley East 37-17 in the final 16 minutes of action.
Sophomore Courtney Nienaber highlighted second half action for the Wolverines with a three-point basket. Lindsay Thomes, a junior, and Martens added four points apiece for Sibley East in the second half.
Martens, the lone returning regular for the Wolverines this season, led Sibley East in the setback with eight points. She netted three field goals while going 2 of 4 from the free throw line.
Rose made 3 of 6 free throw attempts and finished the night with seven points while Renae Rose and Brittany Trocke added four points apiece.
Sibley East finished the night with ten two-point field goals and one three-pointer. The Wolverines were 7 of 14 from the free throw line.
Powered by Busch and Kruggel, GFW finished the night with 29 field goals including five three-point hoops. The Thunderbirds made 8 of 14 free throw attempts.
Other statistics from Monday’s contest were not available when this edition of The Gaylord Hub went to press.
Sibley East, 0-1, will play at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s on Friday, November 30th and at Mayer Lutheran on Tuesday, December 4th.
The first home game for the Wolverines will be against defending Minnesota River Conference (MRC) champion Jordan. That tilt is scheduled for Friday, December 7th.
