UPDATED: Spartan girls cage the Tigers

The Superior High School girls basketball team opened its season with a 73-45 win over the Northwestern Tigers Thursday night in Maple.

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead even before the game started as Superior was assessed a technical foul when two Spartans changed jerseys without telling the official scorer.

Alyssa Correll sank both free throws to give Northwestern a 2-0 lead before the opening tip, but it didn’t last long as seconds later Jessica Lindstrom completed a three-point play after she was fouled while grabbing an offensive rebound.

Lindstrom went on to score 11 of Superior’s first 13 points of the game, with six of the points coming on a pair of 3-point baskets. The Spartans also got two baskets from Hailey Kontny and two free throws from Raya Kosey as they took a 17-10 lead after one quarter of play.

Correll scored seven of Northwestern’s 10 points in the first quarter.

The Spartans doubled up the Tigers, 22-11, early in the second quarter when Kontny picked off a Tiger pass and fed Kosey for the fast-break layup.

Superior eventually increased its lead to 16 points three times, the latest 33-17 on a Kontny basket.

Gwen LaPole followed with a basket and free throw to get the Tigers within 33-20, but the Spartans ended the first half with a 10-3 run for a 43-23 lead at the intermission.

The Spartans continued to control the game after the break and outscored the Tigers 20-9 in the third quarter for a 63-32 lead heading into the final quarter.

Things slowed down in a fourth quarter that saw Northwestern outscore Superior 13-10.

“It was a great way to open the season, a good win with a total team effort,” SHS coach Phil Roe said. “All 12 girls played and contributed. We just wore out Northwestern with our up-tempo pace.”

Lindstrom had a monster game for the Spartans, scoring 28 points with 23 rebounds and three blocked shots. Twenty-three of her points came in the first half.

Superior also got 23 points and seven steals from Kontny, seven points from Kallyn Lagro, six from Kosey, five from Ally Gotelaere, two from Sammy DeMeyer, and a free throw each from Dani Magdzas and Natalie Kintop.

“Jessica played a great game and Hailey handled her new position of point guard well,” Roe said. “She only turned the ball over two times and set up her teammates well.”

Correll led the Tigers with 15 points.

"We tried several people on her defensively and we couldn't stop her," Roe said. "She's a real good player."

LaPole added seven points to the Tigers’ total, Amanda Ogren and Aliex Friend had six apiece, Angela Snow had five, Lynsey Antilla three and Jordan Johnson one.

Both teams area back in action Thursday. The Tigers host the Webster Tigers at 7:30 p.m. and the Spartans are at Duluth Denfeld at 7:15 p.m.

The Spartans first home game is Dec. 13 when they host Ashland at 7:15 p.m.

SPARTAN SPIN: Northwestern opened its season Tuesday with a 48-40 win over Cloquet. ... Superior also won the freshman game 61-28 and the JV game 59-33. Superior's JV team got 12 points from Leah Holmes and 11 points each from Rachal Fregin and Morgan Kubarek.

Superior 17 26 20 10 — 73

Northwestern 10 13 9 13 — 45

Superior — Raya Kosey 6, Dani Magdzas 1, Ally Gotelaere 5, Jessica Lindstrom 28, Kallyn Lagro 7, Natalie Kintop 1, Hailey Kontny 23, Sammy DeMeyer 2. Totals 26 18-34 72.

3-point goals — Lindstrom 3, Gotelaere.

Northwestern — Alyssa Correll 15, Lynsey Anttila 3, Amanda Ogren 6, Aliex Friend 6, Jordan Johnson 1, Gwen LaPole 9, Angela Snow 5. Totals 12 18-34 45.

3-point goals — Friend 2, Ogren, Anttila, Correll.

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