Goodhue Purrs in Season Opener

The defending Class A Minnesota State Champion Goodhue Wildcats defeated the Breckenridge Cowgirls 68-50 Saturday at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic.

The game was played at Southwest Christian High School in Chaska.

Sixteen games were conducted in two gyms at the school in the invitational event featuring some of the state's top programs.

The Wildcats were relentless on defense playing their full court pressure the way Goodhue fans are accustomed to seeing with turnovers forced and points scored off them.

My statistics are by no means official but I had Goodhue scoring 27 points off 28 turnovers while the Wildcats committed 12 and Breckenridge scored 8 points off them.

It's the Wildcat way.  Fun to watch because you don't need a shot clock in their games.

Kendyl Lodermeier set the tone for Goodhue with back-to-back three point baskets to start the game.  The 6'0 post finished with 14 total points including three 3 point baskets.

Aubrey Christianson, 5'5 sophomore led the way with 17 points including two 3 point buckets and Lola Christianson, 5'4 sophomore tallied 10 points with a triple.

The Wildcats had 11 three point baskets. Seven different players made those baskets.

Talk about difficult to defend.

Goodhue led 34-25 at the half thanks to a 16 to 5 advantage in points off turnovers.

The other games played on the same court as Goodhue Saturday were:

• Fridley  106  Park Center  69
• Crosby-Ironton  62  Jordan  52
• Prior Lake  55 Rochester Mayo  52
• Delano  74  Cretin-Derham Hall  37
• Orono  71  Minnehaha Academy  67
• Duluth Marshall  73  Albany  26
• Sauk Centre  80  St. Clair  36

Results from the other gym:

• Hill-Murray  44  Becker  41
• Alexandria 54  Stewartville  49
• Wayzata  64  Eastview 33
• Eden Prairie  83  DeLaSalle  70
• St. Michael-Albertville  76  Rosemount  72
• Providence Academy  82  Maple Grove  75  (Maddyn Greenway  39 points)
• Minnetonka  60  Benilde-St. Margaret's  54
• Hopkins  43  Lakeville North  41

In other action Saturday the Faribault Falcons cruised by Hibbing in Nomeland Gym, 53-26 behind Amira Williams with 22 points and 14 rebounds.  The Falcons host Owatonna Tuesday.

• Farmington  62  Owatonna  36 on Friday
• Academy of Holy Angels  47  Northfield  41 on Saturday

Saturday girls basketball scores:

• Rochester John Marshall  73  Mankato West  65
• United South Central  59  Luverne  51
• New Prague  82  Burnsville  36
• Caledonia  67  Rochester Lourdes  48
• Waterville-Elysian-Morristown  75  Sleepy Eye  47
• Zumbrota-Mazeppa  68  Albert Lea  33
• Lanesboro  57  Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons  49
• Spring Grove  77 St. Charles  32

Friday scores:

• Lyle-Pacelli  37  Leroy-Ostrander  36
• Blooming Prairie  33  Waseca  30
• Grand Meadow  59  Houston  38
• Southland  52  Kenyon-Wanamingo  44
• Sleepy Eye-St. Mary's  76  Waterville-Elysian-Morristown  54
• Plainview-Elgin-Millville  60  Pine Island 35
• Wabasha-Kellogg  42  Medford  23
•  Rochester John Marshall 58  Dover-Eyota  55
• Mayer Lutheran  68  Hayfield/Schaeffer Academy  47
• Triton  57  NRHEG  41
• Red Wing  61  Lake City  56
• Cannon Falls  48  LaCrescent  43
• Loyola  54  Maple River  50
• Elk RIver 52  Eagan  50
• Bloomington Jefferson  55  Apple Valley  47

Thursday scores:

• Dover-Eyota  83  Albert Lea  50
• Byron  60  Mankato West  49
• Houston  54  Lewiston-Altura  35
• Stewartville  67  Mankato East  15

Tuesday night KDHL will broadcast the Bethlehem Academy home opener with Hayfield.  Coverage starts at 7:00 p.m. if the game is on time.