Pictured: EHS freshman Mateya Gilbertson grabs a rebound under the hoop. Also pictured (from left) are Maren Nerem, Haley Wieck, Cybil Vander Top, Ella Veldkamp, and Makenzie Snyder. (Photos by Jill Fennema)

By Skip Hunter –

The first of the cross-town rivalry games between Southwest Minnesota Christian and Edgerton High School was held last Thursday. The old friends met up at SWC and after Madelyn Rozeboom and Kassie Haak sang the national anthem, the teams were off and running.

The Dutchmen played hard and did their best to use their physical presence to stymie the Eagles; however, the Eagles speed and athleticism won out in the end. Alyda Vande Griend proved to be a thorn in the Eagles’ flesh as the freshman scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Cybil Vander Top got things going with a trey assisted by guard- mate Ella Veldkamp. Veldkamp then got the ball to Maren Nerem in the post to make the score 5-0. The Dutchmen broke into the scoring column with a bucket by Vande Griend. Rylie Fey drained a triple using a pass from Morgan Pap. Nerem put back a teammate’s miss and Veldkamp picked a Dutchmen’s pocket and scored with her left hand to give the Eagles a 12-2 lead with 15:20 on the clock.

Savannah Schultz maneuvered toward the hole, shot, was fouled, and made 1 of 2 free throws. After Fey drove the lane for a bucket, Mateya Gilbertson passed to Vande Griend for a hoop. Vander Top and Nerem were fouled while attempting shots and were successful on both free throws. Later, Fey scored after another drive down the lane. Nerem found Makenzie Snyder for a bucket followed by one by Veldkamp, and the Eagles led 24-5, prompting a time out by Coach Andrew Fleischman. The Dutchmen responded when Miriam Ockenga dropped in a 15-foot jump shot. But again Vander Top and Nerem were sent to the line and another 4 points ensued.

Reece Wassink, who the Eagles neutralized effectively, put in a bucket as did Vande Griend, both on strong drives to the hoop. Vander Top put in a charity toss between the 2 scores. The Eagles added 8 points to their total with scores by Veldkamp (putback), Pap (reverse), Veldkamp again, and Fey. Vande Griend waltzed down the baseline for a bucket to make the score 37-13.

M. Pap accounted for the next 2 SWC points with 2 free throws. Vande Griend scored yet again after wiping the offensive glass clean. Addie Fleischman used her left hand after driving to the hoop to score. Fey passed to Nerem who answered that bucket. EHS scored the final bucket of the half when just before the buzzer went off Haley Wieck made a putback score. The board read 41-19 at the break.

EHS sophomore Savannah Schultz guards SWC senior Cybil Vander Top.

EHS senior Addison Fleischman moves tries to dribble past SWC senior Ella Veldkamp.

EHS freshman Alyda Vander Griend moves into the lane.

For the complete article, please see the February 10th edition of the Edgerton Enterprise. If you do not currently receive the Enterprise, CLICK HERE for information on how to subscribe!