SHS wins, Lindstrom scores 1,000th point

The Spartan girls basketball team has another victory, and Superior High School has another member of the 1,000-point club.

Junior Jessica Lindstrom scored her 1,000th career point Tuesday in Superior’s 61-38 victory over Duluth Denfeld.

“It was an exciting moment for the entire team,” said Phil Roe, head coach of the Spartans. “It’s a great accomplishment; and Jessica was the first one to say it isn’t just her, it’s a reflection of the whole team.”

Lindstrom joins her older sister, Lindsey, as a 1,000-point scorer. Lindsey Lindstrom was the last Spartan girl to cross the 1,000-point threshold, doing so in 2006. Sarah Mattson also topped 1,000 points for Superior in 1996 and finished with 1,093 career points.

Jessica Lindstrom faced double- and triple-coverage most of the night but still managed to put the 1,000-point milestone behind her.

She scored 10 points in the first half and 14 in the second half Tuesday night. Her 1,000th point came with about three minutes remaining in the second half on a spin move and layup.

For the night Lindstrom scored 24 points, putting her at exactly 1,000 career points.

“We were all extremely happy to celebrate Jessica’s accomplishment tonight,” Roe said. Lindstrom is a model player on and off the court, he said, and she is deserving of all her accolades.

Alison Wainionpaa started the night with a layup on a pass from Hailey Kontny to give Superior the lead seconds into the game. She added another layup and free throw 20 seconds later to get the Spartans off to a 5-0 start.

Lindstrom them made her first points of the night with an offensive rebound and a put-back. Lindstrom added a free throw before a jumper from Lexi Hill put the Hunters on the board, 8-2.

Wainionpaa increased Superior’s lead on a bounce pass from Lindstrom, and Lindstrom then picked up another assist on a long pass to Kontny for a layup in transition.

Kontny gave Superior a 14-2 lead with a steal and layup, and Alyssa Correll’s 3-pointer made it 17-2.

Lindstrom added a shot and free throw on an inside pass from Natalie Kintop before back-to-back shots from Hill ended a 12-0 run for Superior.

The Spartans still went into halftime with a sizeable lead, 30-12.

Abby Clemons opened the second half with a shot in the lane for Superior, and Denfeld’s Ciarra Taipale responded with a long 2-pointer. Kontny then floated a one-handed layup for the Spartans before Ashley Taipale’s steal and layup for the Hunters made it 34-16.

Lindstrom’s first points of the half came when she was fouled on a 3-pointer. The junior seemed jittery and missed her first two free throws, but she made the final shot and pushed through her nerves as the half wore on.

Lindstrom added four more free throws, two shots in the paint and a 3-pointer to put her one basket away from the milestone. She then made her 1,000th point after getting a pass from Shannon Johnstad on the right side and driving into the lane.

Lindstrom’s 24 points led all scorers. Kontny and Correll also finished in double figures with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Wainionpaa added nine points and Clemons added three.

For Denfeld, Hill led the way with 18 points. Ciarra Taipale finished with eight points.

“I thought it was definitely a scrappy game,” Roe said. “Our defense played really well. Denfeld came out and played physical, so I give Denfeld credit, but our girls played through it and did a great job holding Denfeld (to 38 points).”

SPARTAN SPIN: Lindsey Lindstrom finished with 1,306 career points at SHS. … Kontny, also a junior, is likely to be the next to score her 1,000th point. She had 787 after Tuesday’s game.

Superior 30 31 — 61

Denfeld 12 23 — 38

Superior — Jessica Lindstrom 24, Hailey Kontny 14, Alyssa Correll 11, Alison Wainionpaa 9, Abby Clemons 3. 3-point goals — Correll 3, Kontny, Lindstrom.

Denfeld — Lexi Hill 18, Ciarra Taipale 8, Megan Lazzaro 4, Tyler Ballavance 3, Keara Ballavance 2, Ashley Taipale 2, Cassie Bolen 1. 3-point goals — C. Taipale.

SHS 65, CL 39

Superior defeated Chicasgo Lakes 65-39 Friday night in the SHS gym.

Defense was key for the Spartans, who allowed 25 points in the first half and then only 14 in the second.

Correll led the Spartans on offense with 17 points, all in the first half.

Chisago Lakes 13 12 6 8 — 39

Superior 14 17 14 20 — 65

Chisago Lakes— Hannah Trandahl 2, Carmen Backes 3, Katelyn Ramberg 3, Dani Berg 2, Beka Meyer 5, Sarah Greene 1, Lydia Spading 2, Sam Forslund 2, Brynna Fermstrom 19. Totals 14 7-10 39. 3-point goals — Backes, Ramberg.

Superior — Clemons 6, Wainionpaa 6, Rachel Fregin 7, Natalie Kintop 2, Lindstrom 15, Correll 17, Shannon Johnstad 3, Kontny 8. Totals 26 5-14 65. 3-point goals — Fregin, Lindstrom, Correll 3, Johnstad.

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