PLAINVIEW-ELGIN-MILVILLE WENT UP AGAINST NEW LONDON-SPICER IN THE GIRLS’ CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Plainview-Elgin-Millville and New London-Spicer High School went up against each other in the Minnesota State High School League’s girls’ state Class 2A championship game. The game was played at Williams Arena. 

PEM came out running. They were able to get to the basket and make layups. PEM also was able to get everyone involved in the offense. 

NLS had a difficult time scoring throughout the first half. 

At halftime the score was PEM 39, NLS 14.

As the second half got underway PEM continued push the ball down the floor and get baskets in transition. PEM also did a good job of getting everyone involved in the offense.

There was a media timeout with 10:04 left in regulation. The score was PEM 49, NLS 23.

PEM continued to make layups and was able to get down the floor. NLS had difficulty shooting throughout the game.

PEM came away with the 72-42 victory over NLS. With that win PEM won the 2016 Minnesota State High School Leagues Class 2A State Championship.

MELROSE WENT UP AGAINST NEW LONDON-SPICER IN A FOOTBALL GAME

Melrose and New London-Spicer went up against each other in the Section 6 Class 3A section championship game. Going into the game Melrose was 8-2 and the No. 2 seed in the section. New London-Spicer was 8-1 and the No. 1 seed in the section.

Melrose kicked off to start the game. New London-Spicer got the ball on their own 29 yard line. New London-Spicer’s Trey Austovld came up with a nice first down run. New London-Spicer kept the ground-and-pound attack going throughout the first drive.

New London-Spicer called a timeout with 10:44 left in the first quarter. The game was still scoreless.

New London-Spicer’s Shane Zylstra came up with a first down reception. New London-Spicer quarterback Ethan Bohlsen came up with a first down on a run on a quarterback keeper. New

London-Spicer looked to get into the end zone on their first drive of the game. On fourth-and-18 New London-Spicer went for it. Zylstra tried to run with it but came up short.

Melrose took over on the 11 yard line. Melrose looked to air the ball out on their first offensive series. On fourth-and-eight Melrose punted the ball. There was no return.

New London-Spicer took over on their 45 yard line. New London-Spicer’s Austovld came up with a huge first down reception. The defense was able to slow down the New London-Spicer’s offense.

Melrose turned New London-Spicer over on downs.

Melrose running back Zack Pierskalla came up with a 32-yard run for a first down. Melrose was able to get the ball down the field using both the running and passing attack. Melrose turned the ball over on downs.

New London-Spicer took over on their own 26 yard line.

After one quarter of play the game was scoreless.

Austvold came up with a huge run for a first down. That set up a one yard touchdown run by Jared Travis. New London-Spicer lined up as they were going to kick the extra-point but instead they tried a two point --conversion which was no good.

With 9:21 left in the second quarter the score was New London-Spicer 6, Melrose 0.

Melrose took over on their own 23 yard line. Melrose was not able to move the ball on fourth-and-three they punted the ball. Zylstra caught the punt and ran 70 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was good.

With 7:38 left in the second quarter the score was New London-Spicer 14, Melrose 0.

Melrose got the ball back after the touchdown. They went through the air as they moved the ball down the field. Melrose went for it on fourth-and-two. Melrose’s Anthony Welle came up with a first down catch. Welle also showed off his speed on the ground as he slipped by the defenders on the ground. On fourth-and-10 they went for it but were unsuccessful.

New London-Spicer took over on their own 11 yard line. New London-Spicer went deep as they wanted to move the ball down the field. On fourth-and-four they punted the ball. There was no return.

Melrose looked deep down the field late in the second quarter. They were not able to come up with anything late.

At halftime the score was New London-Spicer 14, Melrose 0.

As the third quarter got underway Melrose looked to get into the end zone. Melrose found the end zone on a one-yard run by Zach Pierskalla. The extra-point attempt was good.

With 9:09 left in the third quarter the score was New London-Spicer 14, Melrose 7.

New London-Spicer kept the ball on the ground and Zylstra came up with a 44-yard touchdown run.

The two-point conversion was good.

With 7:54 left in the third quarter the score was New London-Spicer 22, Melrose 7.

Melrose called a timeout with 5:18 left in the third quarter. The score was New London-Spicer 22, Melrose 7.

Melrose had trouble moving the ball down the field. On fourth-and-six Melrose punted the ball.

Austvold got the ball and was able to keep his feet moving and was able to get a first down. Austvold set up a six-yard touchdown run by Zylstra. The two-point conversion run by Austvold was good.

With 2:29 left in the third quarter the score was New London-Spicer 30, Melrose 7.

Melrose got the ball back after the touchdown and they took it to the air. The receivers had trouble holding the ball.

After three quarters the score was New London-Spicer 30, Melrose 7.

As the fourth quarter got underway the ball changed hands early in quarter.

Melrose got a touchdown on a Pierskalla scores on a two-yard run, Melrose attempted a two-point conversion. Pierskalla scores the two points on a run.

With 2:16 left in the fourth quarter the score was New London-Spicer 30, Melrose 15. That was the final score.

Zylstra said after the game that, “my team had a lot of open blocking and made plays throughout the game.” 

ESKO TOOK ON NEW LONDON-SPICER IN THE GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CLASS 2A QUARTERFINALS

Esko and New London-Spicer went up against each other in the Class 2A state girls basketball quarterfinals at Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota.

 

New London-Spicer started out in a zone defense and Esko swung the ball around the three-point line as they took time off the clock.

 

Esko’s Ashley Bergerson and Ava Gonsorowski came up with some nice mid-range jump shots in the first half that gave their team some energy. They were able to hit shots consistently throughout the first half.

 

Neither team went on a run in the second half.

 

Esko ran a lot of time off the clock on offense in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Esko 21, New London-Spicer 17.

 

As the second half got underway New London-Spicer came out in a zone defense and Esko ran a bunch of time off the clock as they passed the ball around the three-point line.

 

New London Spicer was able to get the ball into the hands of Taylor Thunstedt who came up with some huge mid-range jump shots.

 

Both teams played zone defense which slowed the pace of the game down. Neither team was in a hurry to shoot the ball.

 

Both teams ran a lot of set plays in their offense. Neither team pushed the ball down the floor as they looked to run their offense or pull the ball out and stall.

 

Esko's Erkia Shady came up with some nice mid-range jumpers late in the contest. The defense couldn’t slow her down on offense.

 

Esko came away with the 39-35 victory over New London-Spicer.

 

The leading scorer for New London -Spicer was Thunstedt with 24 points.

 

The leading scorers for Esko were Gonsorowski with 14 points and Bergerson with 12 points.