Lindstrom sets record, SHS thumps East

Superior High School girls basketball coach Phil Roe is running out of basketballs.

Less than a week after presenting Hailey Kontny with the game ball for scoring her 1,000th career point, he gave away another ball Tuesday night when Jessica Lindstrom became the girls’ all-time leading scorer in the Spartans’ 82-50 win over Duluth East in the SHS gym.

“I’m almost out of basketballs,” SHS coach Phil Roe said. “It’s been a fun season that way, being able to celebrate some individual and team accomplishments. But it’s not over yet. We’re just beginning.”

Lindstrom, who was unaware she was nearing the scoring record, entered Tuesday’s game needing 14 points to pass the all-time mark of 1,312, which was held by her sister, Lindsey Lindstrom, who graduated from SHS in 2007.

“I was wondering why the East coach (Joaquim Harris) said before the game, ‘Just get your 14 in the first half, that’s all you need,’” Lindstrom said. “I just looked at him and said ‘Thank you.’ Now I know what he meant.”

Jessica Lindstrom set the new record, and gave Superior a 39-24 lead, with a basket and free throw with 1:48 remaining in the first half.

Lindstrom went on to finish with a game-high 30 points and now has 1,329 career points as the Spartans improved to 18-2 on the season.

“That was really exciting,” Roe said. “The cool things is that she had no idea. She was surprised. It was fun for the entire team to celebrate to her accomplishment.”

Tuesday’s win also completed Superior’s season-sweep of East. The Spartans also won 75-45 on Jan. 31 at Duluth East.

“They beat us twice last year, so it was nice to get back at them,” Lindstrom said.

“It’s always nice to beat East,” Roe added. “Everyone gets fired up for playing East. It was a fun game, they battled and so did we.”

The Spartans (18-2) also got 18 points from Kontny and 12 from Alyssa Correll.

Hannah Johnson and Mia Anderson led East (6-16) with 22 and 21 points, respectively.

Anderson started the game with a 3-pointer, but Superior quickly took a 7-3 lead on a basket and 3-point play from Kontny and a steal and layup from Lindstrom.

East battled back to tie the game 9-9, but Superior ended the quarter with a 13-1 run for a 22-10 lead.

East managed to get within eight points three times early in the second quarter, but once again the Spartans finished strong, this time with a 17-7 run for a 44-26 lead at the intermission.

During the run Lindstrom scored her record-setting points when she made a close-range shot and was fouled.

Before she shot the free-throw, public address announcer Dave Minor announced Lindstrom’s accomplishment.

“That was exciting, I’ve always told her (Lindsey) I was going to pass her, so it is a huge honor,” Lindstrom said. “I didn’t have a clue I was that close. I had no idea, nobody told me. That was actually a good thing. I didn’t feel any pressure.”

After a rousing applause, she went on to make the free throw.

“I really have to thank my teammates, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am without my team and teamwork,” Lindstrom said. “I also want to thank Coach Roe and my dad (Mitch), who taught me everything I know.”

Superior gradually increased its lead to 56-33 in the third quarter on four straight points by Lindstrom, but East’s Johnson scored 10 straight points down the stretch to cut the Spartans’ lead to 58-45.

The Spartans dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Greyhounds 24-5.

Scoring late for the Spartans were Natalie Kintop, who nailed a 3-pointer, and Tailor Schuster, Shannon Johnstad and McKenzie Kmecik, who each made a basket.

The Spartans play at Rice Lake Thursday and Hayward Monday. Both games begin at 7:15 p.m.

Superior will also find out its seed for the upcoming WIAA tournament on Sunday.

“We had a goal of winning the Lake Superior Conference, but as a coach getting two home playoff games was the biggest goal,” Roe said. “We went 5-0 in sectional play, so we’re hoping to get a No. 1 or 2 seed, which will guarantee us two home games.

“Playing at home is a lot better than going to Marshfield and spending 3 ½ hours on a bus like we did last year. That can be a big factor.”

D.C. Everest and Chippewa Falls are also in the mix for the top two seeds, and Superior defeated both during the regular season.

“It’s been a good year, but our ultimate goal is going to the state tournament,” Lindstrom said.

SPARTAN SPIN: East’s Anderson stuck around for the boys game and scored again when two SHS students entered the gym with a huge sign that read, “Mia, will you go to the prom with me?” SHS senior Brandon Gustafson then entered the gym with a dozen roses and Anderson said yes. … Tuesday’s doubleheader was part of a “Slam Dunk Cancer” event, which raised $6,751 to support the St. Luke’s Regional Cancer Center.

Duluth East 10-16-19-5—50

Superior 22-22-14-24—82

Duluth East—Veronica Rudolph, 2; Mia Anderson, 21; Emily Ball, 2; Hannah Johnson, 22; Rachel Weyenberg, 3.

3-pointers—Mia Anderson, 4. Free throws—2-of-15.

Superior—Abby Clemons, 6; Alison Wainionpaa, 1; Rachel Fregin, 6; Natalie Kintop, 3; Jessica Lindstrom, 30; Alyssa Correll, 12; Shannon Johnstad, 2; Hailey Kontny, 18; Tailor Schuster, 2; McKenzie Kmecik, 2.

3-pointers—Fregin 2, Clemons, Kintop. Free throws—10-of-15.

Tags: sports, preps, basketball, superior, spartans, updates