LHS girls' basketball team improves to 2-1

The Luverne Cardinals girls’ basketball team started the week off with a 56-41 loss at home to the Worthington Trojans on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The Cardinals bounced back on Saturday, Jan. 23, when they picked up a 62-40 road victory over St. Clair.
 
Worthington 56, LHS 41
The Cardinals led by three points at halftime but were unable to hold onto that lead in the second half against the Trogans Tuesday.
Elise Ferrell and Averill Sehr both scored nine points to lead the Cardinals. Sehr also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out three assists.
Brooklynn Ver Steeg scored eight points. Christina Wagner scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.
 
LHS 62, St. Clair 40
The two teams played a tightly contested first half before the Cardinals ran away from St. Clair on Saturday.
In the second half the Cardinals turned up the defensive pressure which led to some easy baskets.
“We had a close first half,” Luverne coach TJ Newgard said.
“They hit a bunch of three-pointers on us. They were a smaller team that tried to run and did a good job of penetrating and kicking out. We were able to press them and get some turnovers. We were able to turn those into some easy layups. That was the difference in the game.”
The Cardinals recorded 11 steals. With their length and quickness the Cardinals made each pass an adventure for St. Clair in the second half.
“I think our length and quickness kind of bothered them,” Newgard said.
“Elizabeth Wagner was at the top of our 3-2 zone. She was able to disrupt their offensive flow and get a lot of deflections that led to some steals.”
She led the Cardinals with 25 points and also grabbed seven rebounds, blocked two shots and recorded two steals.
“She was able to read where the offense was trying to get the ball,” Newgard said.
“With her length, she was able to disrupt some things. She’s the head of our press as well. It starts with her getting in passing lanes and making things difficult for them.”
Ver Steeg reached double figures with 11 points. The junior guard also recorded four steals.
Christina Wagner and Emma Beyer both chipped in nine points.
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, it will be a battle between a pair of 2-1 teams when the Cardinals host St. James.
Luverne will wrap up the week when it hosts Marshall on Friday, Jan. 29. As of press time, the Tigers are the sixth-ranked team in Class 3A.