The Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team added a couple of wins in the past week, raising their record to 5-4 for the season.
They defeated Red Rock Central in Lamberton 67-42 Tuesday, Jan. 11, and defeated the Coyotes 73-60 in Fulda Thursday, Jan. 13.
The Patriots will host the Southwest Christian Eagles Thursday and will travel to Elkton, South Dakota, Saturday for the Border Clash before meeting the Dutchmen in Edgerton Monday.
 
H-BC 67, RRC 42
Senior Cole Baker had 29 points as the Patriots dominated from start to finish last Tuesday in Lamberton. The Pates got off to a quick lead and never looked back in the contest. The Pates led 34-15 at half time. Movement of the ball was a key to their success as they assisted on 14 of their 24 converted shots. The Patriots went on to outscore Red Rock Central 33-27 in the second half for a final score of 67-42. 
Seniors Oliver Deelstra (12 points) and Ty Bundesen (8 points) were contributors for the Patriots. Baker also led the way defensively with eight rebounds, three steals, and three blocks on the night. The Patriots, who have now won three in a row and improved to 4-4, will match up with Heron Lake Okabena-Fulda on Thursday night in Fulda.
Box score:
Baker 11 1 4-6 29, Deelstra 3 1 3-9 12, Raymon 1 0 0-1 2, Harnack 0 1 0-0 3, Page 0 0 0-0 0, Leenderts 1 1 0-0 5, Bundesen 0 2 2-2 8, Gehrke 0 0 0-0 0, Metzger 0 0 0-0 0, Taubert 0 0 0-0 0, Tatge 1 0 0-0 2, Durst 0 0 2-2 2, Scholten 0 0 0-0 0, Harris 1 0 2-4 4, Wiersema 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team statistics:
H-BC: 24 of 53 (45 percent), 13 for 24 free throws (54 percent), 37 rebounds, 12 turnovers
RRC: 14 of 41 (34 percent), 11 for 18 free throws (61 percent), 17 rebounds, 19 turnovers
H-BC 73, HLO-F 60
The Coyotes led as much as 14 in the first half, but that wasn’t enough as the Patriots outscored them 43-19 after halftime to secure the victory Thursday night in Fulda.
The high-scoring first half was highlighted by a two-handed slam by Cole Baker (19 points) with a Coyote defender contesting him at the rim.
It was Oliver Deelstra, though, who led the Patriots in scoring with 22. The Patriots are now a perfect 4-0 on the season since Deelstra returned from his elbow injury in late December.
Drew Leenderts, Ty Bundesen, and Andrew Harris all had productive outings for the Patriots, scoring 10, eight, and eight points respectively. Harris also led the way in rebounds with 10 while Baker had nine of his own.
The Patriots improve to 5-4 and will look to continue their winning streak this Thursday in Hills against the Southwest Christian Eagles.
 
Box score:
Baker 7 1 2-3 19, Deelstra 4 2 8-9 22, Raymon 0 2 0-2 6, Harnack 0 0 0-0 0, Page 0 0 0-0 0, Leenderts 1 2 2-2 10, Bundesen 0 2 2-2 8, Gehrke 0 0 0-0 0, Metzger 0 0 0-0 0, Taubert 0 0 0-0 0, Tatge 0 0 0-0 0,  Durst 0 0 0-0 0, Scholten 0 0 0-0 0, Harris 4 0 0-0 8, Wiersema 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team statistics:
H-BC: 26 of 63 (41 percent), 14 for 16 free throws (88 percent), 37 rebounds, 11 turnovers
HLO-F: 23 of 56 (41 percent), 3 for 9 free throws (33 percent), 30 rebounds, 17 turnovers

The Luverne Cardinals boys’ basketball team came up short against the Pipestone Area Arrows and Southwest Minnesota Christian Eagles.
The Cardinals, now 1-8 on the season, lost 65-45 in Pipestone Jan. 11 before falling 77-68 to the Eagles in Luverne Monday night.
Luverne is scheduled to play in Adrian tonight (Jan. 20) before traveling to Williams Arena in Minneapolis Friday night to play Belle Plaine and then hosting St. James Area Monday night.
The Cardinals’ game vs. Jackson County Central scheduled for Jan. 14 was   postponed to Feb. 18 due to a snowstorm last week.
 
Pipestone Area 65, Luverne 45
It was a tough night all around for the Luverne Cardinals when they traveled to Pipestone to face the Arrows Tuesday, Jan. 11.
The Cardinals scored the first two points of the game and held a 9-7 lead after seven minutes.
A three-pointer by Pipestone then gave the Arrows a 10-9 lead that they would retain for the remainder of the contest.
The Arrows, who scored 61 percent from the field overall, outscored Luverne 31-26 in the first half and 34-19 in the second half. The Cardinals shot just 43 percent from the field.
Gannon Ahrendt led Luverne with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Casey Sehr added eight points.
Connor Overgaard totaled six rebounds, and Nathaniel Cole-Kraty had four.
 
Box score:
Cole-Kraty 3 0 0-2 6, Schoeneman 1 1 1-1 6, Cowell 0 0 0-0 0, Sehr 1 1 3-4 8, Friedrichsen 1 0 0-0 2, Ahrendt 3 3 3-5 18, Overgaard 2 0 1-6 5
 
Team stats
Luverne: 16 of 37 (43 percent), 8 of 18 free throws (44 percent), 16 rebounds, 13 turnovers
Pipestone: 28 of 46 (61 percent), 3 of 4 free throws (75 percent), 27 rebounds, 13 turnovers
 
SWC 77, Luverne 68
In a game that was much closer than the final score showed, Luverne had one of its best games of the season so far in a 77-68 loss to the Southwest Minnesota Christian Eagles in the Luverne Classic Gym Jan. 17.
The Eagles, now 10-3 on the season, took an early lead that they maintained for the first 23 minutes of game time, but the score was close throughout most of the game.
SWC led 38-34 at half-time.
In the second half, Luverne tied the game 48-48 with a three-pointer by Colin Schoeneman with 12:15 remaining in the game.
Schoeneman drained four three-pointers in the contest and ended with 14 points.
Two minutes later, another three-pointer by Schoeneman gave the Cardinals their first lead of the night, 53-52, with 10:24 remaining.
Luverne’s largest lead of the night was five points after Schoeneman and Gannon Ahrendt dropped consecutive three-pointers to give the Cards a 59-54 advantage with 8:20 on the clock.
Ahrendt led the Cardinals with 20 points. Connor Overgaard scored 13 points and collected four rebounds.
The Eagles quickly tied the game again at 59 before Casey Sehr scored to give Luverne its final lead of the game, 61-59.
A three-pointer by the Eagles gave them a 62-61 lead they would not relinquish.
A dunk by Ahrendt with 4:30 remaining kept the Cardinals within two points at 66-64, but Southwest benefited from a series of late Luverne turnovers to quickly build a 12-point lead with under a minute remaining.
A late three-pointer by Luverne's Tyson Cowell brought the final score to 77-68.
Overall, Luverne head coach John Sichmeller was pleased with his team’s effort against the talented Eagles squad.
“We had our best offensive game of the year,” he said.
“We put ourselves in a position to beat a very good team, but in the end our turnovers got us.”
 
Box score:
Cole-Kraty 2 0 0-0 4, Schoeneman 1 4 0-0 14, Cowell 0 1 0-0 3, Sehr 2 0 0-0 4, Radtke 4 0 2-4 10, Ahrendt 7 1 3-5 20, Overgaard 5 0 3-6 13
 
Team stats:
Luverne: 27 of 46 (59 percent), 8 of 15 free throws (53 percent), 10 rebounds, 6 turnovers
 SWC: 32 of 56 (57 percent), 7 of 9 free throws (78 percent, 9 rebounds, 8 turnovers

During a busy stretch of the season for the Cardinals wrestling team, the team suffered three team losses but secured many individual victories. 
On Tuesday, Jan. 11, the Cardinals lost to Adrian at home 42-27. They hosted Marshall and Pipestone Thursday, Jan. 13, when they lost to the Tigers, 72-12, and the Arrows 39-18.
On Saturday, Jan. 15, they traveled to St. James for the Big South Conference championship and returned with one medal.
The Cardinals were scheduled to travel to Worthington Tuesday night and to Red Rock Central Friday.
 
Adrian Duel
The Cardinals hosted the Dragons for the first home meet of the season Tuesday, Jan. 11, and suffered a 42-27 setback as a team.  
After two initial losses, Leif Ingebretsen (wrestling at 120) got the Cardinals on the scoreboard, by securing a fall over Iziah Groenewold.
The team rattled off three consecutive wins, beginning at 132 with Noah Mehlhaff,  pulling the team ahead in team score.  Zach Bradly (wrestling 138) pinned his opponent before Braydon Ripka (wrestling145) came out and did the same. 
The team score was 24-15 through 152 as both teams did not have a wrestler to compete.
At 160, Adrian’s Rilee Heidebrink received a close 8-7 decision over Jaden Reisch before the Cardinals’ Jacob Madison secured a 2-0 decision over Micah Bullerman at 170. 
After these two matches, Luverne remained up 27-18, but four forfeits followed, giving the Dragons the 42-27 team win.
“We didn’t wrestle our best and with a couple different outcomes in a handful of matches, the team score would have been within a couple points,” shared head coach Jordan Kopp.
 
Marshall and Pipestone Triangular
In a tough matchup against Marshall Thursday, Jan. 13, the Cardinals only won two matches, losing to the Tigers 72-12.
Luverne’s Noah Mehlhaff won by fall against the Tigers’ Collin Klenken at 132, and Braydon Ripka pinned Marshall’s James Gednalske to secure the 12 team points for the Cardinals.  
Against Pipestone, the Cardinals fared better, securing three victories against the Arrows but losing 39-18.
At 126, seventh-grader Hudson Hough pinned Dalten Nielsen before Braydon Ripka won by fall over Bode Bruns at 152. Jaden Reisch secured the third win by pinning the Arrows’ Xavier Banjoko.
“Glad I went 2-1 and was able to win two matches against conference opponents,” said Mehlhaff.
“I fell short against my Pipestone opponent, but it was a good match.”
 
Big South Conference Tournament
On Jan. 15 the Cardinals faced tough opposition once again from conference foes.  
Wrestling at 145, Ripka secured the only medal for Luverne.
After receiving an initial round bye, Rikpa advanced past Windom’s Caden Swoboda with a 5-0 decision.  He then fell to Fairmont’s Kain Sanders, the eventual champion, by pin in the second period. 
In the third-fourth place match, Ripka was up after a period, but he got caught in a pinning hold, ending his tournament in fourth place. This is the fourth time Rikpa has come home with hardware.
“Competition is tough when it comes to Minnesota teams in this area, and I’m proud of Ripka getting another medal,” Kopp said.
“We wrestled tough and had good matches, especially in the JV tournament.”

Blessings to all of you in the new year.
Isaiah 43: “1But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
I am clinging to the scripture texts so deeply these days. God claims us, identifies us as His, Children of God, beloved and redeemed! 2022 is a brand-new year, a new chance to share God’s love, to help each other and encourage and empower our children. Our baptismal responsibility is to do just that, to pray for and encourage young lives in the faith that gives us a name, Child of God. 
Some of you know that recently my son died. It was the most devastating experience that will haunt me for a very long time.  And yet I know that being a child of God is a blessing, and I will see my son again.  I trust that God called him, and that God redeemed him. As I walk through this valley, I trust that God is there right beside me.
God’s love and grace abound, and from Romans 8, “26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
In our lives there are always times when we are not at our best, and God walks with us, God carries us when we can’t even walk, and as Romans 8 says, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness when all we can do is sigh. Trust in that blessing, and know that God fills us with all that we need.
Gracious heavenly Father, thank you for all that you do for us. Give us the strength and the courage to take the next step, and to move forward knowing that you lead us and direct us. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on YouTube at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
103 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Ann Zastrow, Pastor
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, Jan. 20: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Sunday, Jan. 23: 9 a.m. Worship Service. 10 a.m. Coffee fellowship. 10 a.m. Sunday school. 5 p.m. Worship Service. Tuesday, Jan. 25: 7 a.m. Dorcas Circle at The Bean. 8:30 a.m. Grace Notes assembly. 9 a.m. Staff meeting. 1:30 p.m. Worship at Mary Jane Brown. 2:15 p.m. Worship at Poplar Creek. Wednesday, Jan. 26: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. 3:15 p.m. Faithweavers. 5 p.m. Youth supper. 6:15 p.m. 6th and 7th grade Confirmation. 7:15 p.m. 8th grade Confirmation. 8:15 p.m. 9th grade Confirmation. Thursday, Jan. 27: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are available. Online: Sundays 9 a.m. on the church website www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab or go directly to our Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 will air our worship service Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. Radio: KQAD-AM Radio will air our worship service on Sundays at 8:15 a.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Friday, Jan. 21: 6:3o a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, Jan. 23: 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. 10:50 a.m. Sunday school. Tuesday, Jan. 25: 12 p.m. Staff meeting. 7 p.m. Prayer meeting. Wednesday, Jan. 26: 5:30 p.m. Midweek Meal. 6:30 p.m. Pioneer Club. 6:30 p.m. Jr. and Sr. High youth groups. Services are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church (formerly First Assembly of God)
1075 110th Ave., 2 miles west of Luverne on County Rd. 4
Ph. 612-800-1255; email info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor; Annette Junak, Assistant Pastor
Sundays, 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship service. Children’s church for ages 3-6th grade and nursery for ages 0-3 provided during our services. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Worship service. All services are in-person and all are welcome.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529
Saturday, Jan. 22: AA meeting. Sunday, Jan. 23: 9 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 9:15 a.m. Coffee. 10:30 a.m. Worship service with officer recognition Sunday. 4:30 p.m. Genesis/Revelation Bible study. Monday, Jan. 24: Messenger deadline. Wednesday, Jan. 26: 5:30 p.m. Community Meal with pickup option. 6:15 p.m. FUEL. 6:30 p.m. Confirmation. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Live streamed on Facebook and radio.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net
Sunday, Jan. 23: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 10:30 a.m. PW soup dinner. Monday, Jan. 24: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Quilters. Wednesday, Jan. 26: No bell or choir. 7:15 p.m. Deacons. In-person Worship service and live on Facebook. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, Pastor
Saturday, Jan. 22: 5:30 p.m. Worship Service with Holy Communion. Sunday, Jan. 23: 9 a.m. Worship Service. 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible class; Sunday School. Wednesday, Jan. 26: 9:30 a.m. Bible study. 6:30 p.m. Kids for Christ; 6:30-8 p.m. Confirmation. 7:30 p.m. High School Youth Group. Services will be available on the Vast Channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Billy Skaggs, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. (605) 368-1924; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 23: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday School. 10:30 a.m. Bible study. Worship service on Luverne cable at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 23: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10 a.m. Sunday school. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, Jan. 23: 9:30 a.m. Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, even if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sunday, 9 a.m., in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270
Sunday, Jan. 23: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Chapel. 10 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion. 9 a.m. Sunday School. 7-8:30 p.m. Youth group meets. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, Jan. 25: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:30 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesday, Jan. 26: 9 a.m. Quilting. 6 p.m. Confirmation. 7 p.m. Social/dessert time. 7:15 p.m. Wednesday night worship service.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

The Luverne Cardinals improved their girls’ hockey record to 16-1 with a pair of wins this past week.
They traveled to Fairmont for an 8-2 win Tuesday, Jan. 4, before returning home Friday to beat Wahpeton-Breckenridge 9-1.
 
Luverne 8, Fairmont 2
It took a little time to get the Luverne girls rolling on Tuesday night in Fairmont.
Luverne’s Reghan Bork scored the only goal in the first period to give Luverne the 1-0 lead.
Shots on goal for the period were 12-10 in favor of Fairmont. Luverne goalie Cheyenne Schutz made 12 saves in the period.
Kamryn Van Batavia gave the visiting Cardinals a two-goal lead midway through the second with the assist going to Macie Edstrom.
Twenty-three seconds later senior standout Reghan Bork made it 3-0 with Van Batavia and Ella Apel assisting.
Van Batavia got her second of the game with just over three minutes remaining with assist going to Anika Boll and Bork.
Fairmont took advantage of a Luverne penalty late in the second when Fairmont’s Jozie Hoefker beat Schutz to cut Luverne’s lead to 4-1 heading into the second period intermission.
Shots on goal for the period were 19-13 Luverne.
Luverne took over the game in the third period when Van Batavia wasted no time getting a pass from Ella Apel and beating Fairmont’s goalie Rachel O’ Connor just 18 seconds into the period.
Van Batavia scored three more times in the period to give Luverne a commanding 8-1 lead.
Edstrom and Bork had two assists each on Van Batavia’s goals.
Fairmont’s Mackenzie Householder scored a goal with just five seconds left in the period, and that’s how it ended in the Martin County Arena with the visiting Cardinals winning 8-2.
Shots on goal for the period were 18-10 and 47-35 for the game in favor of Luverne. Schutz finished with 33 saves.
 
Luverne 9, Breckenridge-Wahpeton 1
Luverne welcomed Breckenridge-Wahpeton Blades to the Blue Mound Ice Arena in Luverne Friday night for a 7 p.m. tilt.
Junior Kamryn Van Batavia entered the game leading the state of Minnesota in scoring, with 197 total goals for her career and approaching a rare milestone of 200.
Van Batavia didn’t take long to give the Cardinals an early lead, dazzling her way through the Blades defenders just minutes into the game.
It was her line mate Payton Behr who made it 2-0 early in the first with just a snipe of a wrister over the Blades’ goalie Kolle Schuler’s glove.
Van Batavia took a pass from Reghan Bork, skated into the zone and fired a no-look wrister past Schuler to give the Cardinals a three-goal lead early in the first.
For the fans who thought they would have to wait to see Van Batavia hit 200, they were wrong.
Van Batavia took a pass and came in all alone on a breakaway, beating Schuler’s sprawling butterfly with a little over six minutes left in the period.
Luverne goalie Cheyenne Schutz kept the Blades scoreless, making a huge save on a two on zero that the Blades took advantage of on a Luverne turnover.
Luverne took a 4-0 lead into the first intermission. Shots on goal for the period were 7-6 Luverne. Schutz had six saves in the period.
In the second period the Cardinals got on the board when Van Batavia was knocked to her knees and was still able to slide a pass over to Bork who launched a wrister past Schuler to make it 5-0.
A Blades penalty put the Cardinals on the power play at the 10-minute mark of Period 2.
Bork took a pass from Ella Apel, skated in and blasted a wrister on the ice to make it 6-0. Annika Boll also assisted on the goal.
Van Batavia again beat Schuler with a wrister late in the period.
Forty seconds later it was No. 3 for Bork, with the assist going to Van Batavia to make it an eight-goal lead after two periods.
Luverne goalie Emma Saarloos started the second period in replacement of Schutz and made 10 big saves in the period to keep the Blades scoreless.
The final period had the Cardinals and Blades each getting a goal.
Breckenridge-Wahpeton’s Kennedy Schuler got the Blades on the board at the 7:31 mark of Period 3.
Luverne got another with Van Batavia getting her sixth of the game and No. 203 of her career with assist going to Ella Apel.
Shots on goal for the period were 5-2 and 21-18 for the game with the Cardinals holding the advantage.
Saarloos finished with 11 saves in the game, and Schutz registered six saves in her first-period action.
After the game Van Batavia shared thoughts on her 200th career goal and her team’s success this season.
“It has been very exciting, and I really enjoyed seeing all the support from my coaches, teammates, family and fans,” she said.
“When I think about our success this year, I relate it to a practice goal we have set for our team: ‘Practice at a high tempo, play at even a higher tempo.’ We go hard at practice and stay humble, and it’s starting to pay off.”

A piece of Metzger family history found a new home at McCrossan Boys Ranch, Sioux Falls, where a 150-year-old horse-drawn buggy was donated last month.
It originally belonged to Kathy Metzger’s great-grandparents, George and Augusta Leubecher, who homesteaded the farm where Kathy’s late father, Rex Leubecher lived at 69th and Sycamore in Sioux Falls.
The buggy was stored there for decades until recently moving to the Metzger shop near Hills after being gifted to Ray and Kathy Metzgers’ children — Kristi, Tyson, Matt and Rex.
“They always thought it would be fun to fix up and actually hitch horses to it, but that never happened,” Kathy said.
“In December they decided to donate it to McCrossan Boys Ranch. … This is a place that was always near and dear to my dad's heart.”
On Dec. 29 staff from McCrossan picked it up from the Metzgers’ shop by Hills.
Troy Geis, director of admissions and equine services, was there.
“We couldn’t tell what kind of shape it was in when we picked it up — it had 100 years of dust on it and you could tell it had sat in barns and shops for 100 years,” he said.
“But once we got back and started cleaning it up, we saw that it’s in extremely good condition. It had been well taken care of.”
He also remarked on its original condition.
“It’s probably one of the most original buggies I’ve ever seen,” said Geis, a self-described history buff.
“To see something that’s existed for 100-some years is so cool, and to learn it had a story with it … I learned that the company had dealership in Sioux Falls at the turn of the century, so this couple probably bought it there.”
The maker’s plate under the floor mat identifies the buggy as being manufactured by the Emerson-Brantingham Carriage Works Company in Rock Island, Illinois.
The serial number on a white tag under the buggy seat matches the serial number on the plate.
The Metzger family traveled to McCrossan Boys Ranch on Dec. 30 to see the buggy in its new home.
“The boys there had spent hours cleaning it up,” Kathy said. “We couldn't believe how great it looked.”
McCrossan Boys Ranch is a private, nonprofit school for boys ages 9-20 who have experienced conflict in their lives. It’s been in operation since 1955 northwest of Sioux Falls.
“We’re a working ranch with horses, cattle and sheep, and we use that as part of our treatment program to try to help,” Geis said.
He said the Metzger buggy is in driving condition, but a couple of spokes in a wheel will be tuned before hitching it to a horse.
After that, the buggy will likely make regular appearances in parades, wagon rides and other events.