It was a happy moment when the referees stopped the game and Lily Gruber-Schulz was presented with flowers and a game ball commemorating her going over 1,000 points for her high school career. Lily is pictured here flanked by her two biggest fans, her mom, Jennifer, and her dad, John.
The Vikings had way too much defense, too much quickness, too much height and too much skill for their Friday, January 15 home matchup against the Silver Bay Mariners.
Leading 10-5, the Vikings took control of the boards, the ball and set the tempo as they went on a 33-1 run to go into the locker room up 43-6. Coach Senty pulled most of her starters early in the second half and the game ended 67-16 in favor of the Vikings.
Silver Bay had no answer for Lily Gruber-Schulz who often drove the lane to score lay-ups or put back offensive rebounds for points.
Gruber-Schulz finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals and 2 blocked shots. Emily Jacobsen also scored pretty much at will and ended her night with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 1 steal. Sophie Eliasen finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals. Sarah Toftey had 4 assists; Maya McHugh 2 points; Abbie Crawford 3 points; Hannah Toftey 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals; Bayley Cox 3 points, 7 assists, and 1 steal; and Joceline Deneweth had 2 rebounds and one steal.
Left: Bayley Cox eluded her Silver Bay defender to go up and score two points against the Mariners.
Gruber-Schulz hits the 1,000-point mark
With 12:38 to play in the Vikings’ home game against Ely on Saturday, January 16, Viking senior guard/forward Lily Gruber-Schulz took a pass down low and from four feet out made a 2-point shot that put her over the 1,000-point mark.
Referees stopped the game as the crowd stood and cheered and a special ceremony was held commemorating the event. The Vikings were up 37-13 at that juncture, and the game was well in hand.
Gruber-Schulz joins Malinda Berglund, Rachael Seim, Brea Boomer, Maddy Cochrane, Emily Jacobsen, and Ashley Deschampe as the only Vikings who have gone over 1,000 points in their careers.
With her parents flanking her, Lily accepted the game ball and Coach Kelly Senty said a few words about her star player. “We’re so lucky to have you. You have been such an awesome athlete and person both on and off the court. Congratulations on this accomplishment,” said Senty.
Eighth-grader Abbie Crawford shows off her ball handling skills as she beat her defender to the basket.
As far as the game itself, the Vikings were up 14-0 and then 26-4 at the half. Once Lily hit her milestone, Senty pulled her starters and the young Ely Timberwolves team scored some points off the Vikings’ B-Team. The final score was 51-28.
Gruber Schulz finished her night early on the bench once the game was well in hand. She ended with 9 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.
Sophie Eliasen led the team in scoring with 14 points. She also had one rebound and five steals. Shauna Blake had 4 points and 4 rebounds; Sarah Toftey 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal; Maya McHugh 4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal; Abbie Crawford 3 points; Hannah Toftey 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 2 steals; Bayley Cox 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals; Emily Jacobsen also had another nice performance, racking up 10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Alyssa Spry and Joceline Deneweth also saw action in the game.
This was the seventh consecutive win for the Vikings who are continually improving their defense and finding ways to share the ball on offense.
After the game Coach Senty said, “It was wonderful to see Lily hit her 1,000th point at home. She told me she did not want to know her point totals as the season progressed and that she was unaware of all the behind-the-scenes details that were put into place prior to the game. It was such a genuine way to honor and celebrate her achievement.”
Vikings lose in overtime to Two Harbors
The Vikings’ seven game-winning streak came to an end when the team traveled to Two Harbors on Tuesday, January 19 to face the Agates on their home floor.
It was a nip and tuck affair the whole night, with the Agates hitting a desperation shot from the far corner as time ran out to send the game into overtime. The shot, which didn’t appear to have a chance to go in, apparently hit the backboard and caromed off the rim, then off the rim and up, and then somehow fell into the basket. Some missed foul shots and blown opportunities for easy baskets by the Vikings ended up costing the Vikings, who fell 49-46.
Lily Gruber-Schulz led the team in scoring with 17 points. Gruber- Schulz, the team’s floor leader, missed quite a bit of action in the first half due to foul trouble. Emily Jacobsen ended with 11 points, Sophie Eliasen 8, and Sarah and Hannah Toftey each finished with 5 points.
The Vikings play Carlton on Friday, January 22 at home at 4:45 p.m., then face Lake View Christian Academy at home on Tuesday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m. Cook County News-HeraldCook Cook County News-HeraldCook
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