Sibley East falls to GFW's quickness

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

WINTHROP -- Having lost a majority of his top players from a year ago, Sibley East coach Alan Ihrke knew that this year's team would take a while to get used to the varsity level.

The Wolverines struggled with Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop's quickness and ball pressure all night and lost 64-26 in nonconference girl's basketball action.

The Wolverines committed 28 turnovers compared to only 11 by the Thunderbirds.

"Turnovers definitely hurt us today," Ihrke said. "I would say we have a young team. They're learning what it's like to play at the varsity level. We were fortunate last year to have a big group of seniors. With those graduated, we're trying to learn by playing the game."

Ashley Vorwerk led the Thunderbirds with 18 points.

"We wanted to put pressure on their guards," Vorwerk said. "We pretty much did that with our full-court press. We wanted to box-out too."

GFW jumped out to a 10-2 lead thanks to a steal in the backcourt by Kruggel, forcing Ihrke to call a timeout.

"I guess we came out slow in the other game, and our press was working for us and we were hitting our shot," Vorwerk said.

Kruggel's basket with eight seconds left gave the Thunderbirds a 14-8 lead as the quarter ended.

In the second quarter, Vorwerk's short jumper put GFW up 21-10. Ashley Busch's rebound and putback made it 23-10. Becky Jackson hit the only Thunderbird 3-pointer to give her team a 26-10 lead and the Thunderbirds led 27-12 at the half.

"I knew that they were a very quick and very good team," Ihrke said. "We just need to realize that is the speed of which varsity play is. Having few players with much varsity experience, that makes a big difference."

In the third quarter, Jackson's jumper put GFW up 38-18 and a pair of Vorwerk free throws made it 40-18. Nea Harkness' jumper as time expired put the Thunderbirds up 44-19 after three.

Busch hit consecutive baskets to open the fourth quarter as the Thunderbirds continued the tough defensive intensity. Kruggel's steal at midcourt allowed her to go in for two, putting GFW up 50-19. The Thunderbirds finished with 20 steals.

"That was our game plan, especially that we had Alisha Kruggel back and that gave us some quickness, and we were able to get some steals off that and score some easy buckets," GFW coach Becky Busse said.

Tiffany Youngblom scored her only basket of the night on a short jumper, giving GFW a 64-26 lead. The Thunderbirds had 10 different players score for them on the night.

"That's one thing that this team does is they never let me down," Busse said. "Especially my sophomores that I have come out and play hard."

Busch finished with 13 points and eight rebounds and Kruggel scored eight points and had five steals. Lindsey Kahle had eight rebounds and Cami Larson had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Wolverines.

GFW outrebounded Sibley East (0-1) 27-16.

GFW (2-0) is at Buffalo Lake-Hector Tuesday.

Martin Luther 60, Madelia 36

NORTHRUP -- Martin Luther's Leslie Bremer, Lindsey McNea and Katie Leimer combined for 56 points as they beat Madelia 60-36 Thursday.

Cali Hines scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds for Madelia (0-2, 0-1), and Laura Pace had seven rebounds.

Martin Luther is now 1-1 and 1-0 in the conference.