Spartans snuff out Comets

The Spartans disrupted BCLUW in a 49-25 victory at Grundy Center High School in the season opener for both teams on Monday night.

“The offensive piece will continue to get better as we progress along, but I was really happy with how our girls got after it defensively,” Grundy Center head coach Matt Lindeman said.

Karlee Lynch and Ava Mundt led the Spartans with 13 points each and Cat Brown added 11 points.

Grundy graduated four seniors from last year’s state-qualifying team, but showed a lot of the same tenets common to teams coached by Lindeman, now in his 12th year coaching the Spartans.

“I think we all really work well together,” Lynch said. “A lot of us got playing time last year and we just talk and communicate really well together.”

The Spartans led 11-4 after the first quarter, and scored the first 13 points of the second quarter to take a 28-9 lead at the halftime horn.

BCLUW had a size advantage in the paint with Grace Farnsworth and Savannah Moeller, two players from the Comets’ state runner-up volleyball team, working under the basket.

Farnsworth finished with 13 points, but was limited to seven in the first half as the Spartans provided a challenge beyond the physical limitations.

“We aren’t a very big team, but we’re really aggressive,” Lynch said. “We’re able to double down on the bigger players and our back help really helps.”

The Spartans also got plenty of looks at the free-throw line, making 17-of-23 from the charity stripe as BCLUW was whistled for 22 fouls.

“It’s tough to be able to handle that kind of pressure,” BCLUW head coach Joel Johnson said. “I can’t fault the girls for how hard they played, but Grundy’s always played really good defense, and that made the difference for sure.”

Brinna Benson added eight points for the Comets, including a couple three-pointers.

“There were times where we had some good shots, and they just didn’t go in,” Johnson said. “I think we’ve got older girls out there where by the end of the year, they’ll be making those shots all the time.”

The Comets are back in action tonight at home against AGWSR.

“I wish I had a clear starting five, but that’s going to be tough to come up with,” Johnson said “I’m encouraged with the team and I think that we’ll just get better.”

Grundy Center will return to action after the Thanksgiving break with a home game against 2A No. 10 Denver.

“This feels really good,” Lynch said after the win. “I’m excited to see what else we can do.”

Grundy Center 49, BCLUW 25

BCLUW (0-1) — Abby Kemp 0 0-0 0, Brinna Benson 3 0-0 8, Kalia Stover 0 0-0 0, Klayre Gallentine 1 0-0 2, Grace Farnsworth 5 3-8 13, Raegan Crawford 0 0-0 0, Savannah Moeller 0 2-2 2, Morgan Bergman 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 9 5-10 25.

GRUNDY CENTER (1-0) — Maddy Hendershot 1 0-0 2, Kali Aldrich 1 1-2 4, Karlee Lynch 2 9-11 13, Caturella Brown 4 0-0 11, Ava Mundt 3 7-10 13, Raelyn Steinmeyer 1 0-0 2, Contessa Dirks 0 0-0 0, Taitlyn Thran 0 0-0 0, Teresa Noble 0 0-0 0, Skylar Reding 0 0-0 0, Trinity Jirovsky 0 0-0 0, Kennedy Scott 0 0-0 0, Erin Richtsmeier 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 14 17-23 49.

BCLUW 2 7 5 11 — 25

GRUNDY CTR. 11 17 16 3 — 49

3-Point Goals–BCLUW 2 (Benson 2), GC 4 (Brown 3, Aldrich). Team Fouls–BCLUW 22, GC 10. Fouled Out–Stover, Crawford, Moeller.