For whom the Bell tolls: GM senior lifts Superlarks to overtime win
Published 10:12 pm Monday, November 25, 2019
- Grand Meadow’s Madison Hindt fights off defensive pressure in GM Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
GRAND MEADOW — Isabelle Olson stands at just five-feet, five inches tall but she stood tall down the stretch as she answered the call and pushed the Superlarks to a 69-64 overtime win over Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons in the season opener in GM Monday.
Olson hit a pair of three-pointers to give the Superlarks a 66-60 lead with 1:25 left in the OT and one of those threes came after she had battled for an offensive rebound. She finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and six steals.
“In the first half I shot a couple of times and they just weren’t falling. Coaches always say ‘if they’re not falling, just keep shooting,’” Olson said. “I came out in that overtime, the team needed me and I was going to keep trying. I knocked down two and the blood was rushing through my body. I was really excited.”
Grand Meadow’s Isabelle Olson battles for a loose ball with Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons’ Chloe Anderson in GM Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
GM tied the game at 58 when Riley Queensland scored on a put-back with 19.6 seconds left in overtime. Queensland had 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and four steals, and she also had the tall task of matching up with ACGE’s Abbie Thuesch, who poured in 30 points.
“ She’s a really good player,” Queensland said of Tuesch. “She can attack the basket and she played some really nice defense. She pushed me to try and play better.”
Riley Groom poured in 16 points for GM, sophomore River Landers put up 16 points and 11 rebounds and Madison Hindt had 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
“I’m super proud of the whole team,” GM head coach Ryan Queensland said. “This team is finding it’s own identity and I thought some of our younger players stepped up and our leaders led. It was a true team effort and this was a grit win. They had to get their minds right and fight through and for them to have that type of composure, to go into OT and get the ‘W,’ we grew up a lot tonight.”
Riley Queensland rises for a score for the Superlarks against Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons in Grand Meadow Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
GEAC 29 29 6 — 64
GM 31 27 11 — 69
GM scoring: River Landers, 16; Riley Groom, 16; Riley Queensland, 16; Madison Hindt, 12; Isabelle Olson, 9; free throws: 50 percent (5-for-10); rebounds: 38 (Landers, 11); turnovers: 27
