Fairmont ‘turns over’ LCWM hoopsters, 64-39

By Charlie Sorrells
Fairmont Basketball Association Contributor

FAIRMONT – Fairmont forged a blanketing midcourt trap with its traditional basketball-hawking man-to-man defense to create a positive 2-to-1 steals ratio over the Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Knights on Tuesday night at Cardinal Gym.
Brylee Miller, who produced a game-best double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds to complement a game-high five assists, triggered Fairmont’s 20-10 edge in thefts by pocketing a game-leading five to help engineer a runaway 64-39 nonconference triumph over LCWM.
The sure-handed Miller served as the main catalyst behind the Cardinals’ early 13-0 surge in the opening segment before capping the home team’s 11-0 landslide to close out the first 18 minutes with a commanding 37-16 margin.
“We really got after it on the defensive end of the floor tonight,” said Fairmont head coach Sara Junkermeier, whose lineup generated a plus-11 in turnovers during its second straight win to tip off the season. “I really liked the level of our physicality and our determination in getting to the right spot to trap, but in turn, we need to start reducing our own turnovers. Seventeen (turnovers) is too many to win every night, so we’ll have to work on lowering that number.”
Trailing 8-5 on the heels of LCWM guard Jaci Jordan’s 3-pointer, Fairmont utilized Miller’s turnaround bank shot in the lane off of a Gwyn Schultz entry pass to reel off a momentum-shifting 13-0 run midway through the first half.
Makayla Lowry, who delivered stellar numbers of 14 points, five boards and three steals, and Emelia Klanderud added solo free throws before Miller beat the shot clock with a low-post banker off a Kennedy Becker assist.
Miller later drove the paint for a 12-foot runner, Makayla Lowry converted a traditional 3-point play from the endline before Lowry added a putback basket to ignite an 18-8 lead with 9:22 remaining before intermission.
Ironically, Jordan’s second trifecta of the game finally ended the Knights’ 5-minute scoring drought at the 7:58 juncture of the first half. Jordan went on to top LCWM’s effort with 12 points.
Ahead 26-16, Klanderud’s quick-wristed defense set the tone for the Cardinals’ 11-0 run to extend the hometown team’s edge on the scoreboard to 21 by the break. Klanderud then fed Ellie Ortega for a low-post basket before Miller made a solo charity toss to restore a 15-point lead.
Schultz’s diving and sliding steal-turned-scoop pass later allowed Ortega to spot a breaking Klanderud for a breakaway basket. Makayla Lowry and Miller closed out the opening half by pocketing back-to-back midcourt thefts-turned-layups en route to a 37-16 margin.
Grace Thorson, Jordan and Nev Parsons combined to help the Knights open the second half on an 8-3 offensive outburst to whittle their gap to 40-24, but Becker countered by swooshing a pivotal 3-pointer from the top of the key off of a Miller assist to stem LCWM’s comeback with 13:20 remaining in regulation.
Miller, Makayla Lowry and Becker each contributed 3-point plays down the stretch to restore the Cardinals’ 25-point plus margin en route to their second consecutive victory.
Ortega contributed 10 points to Fairmont’s win, Becker tallied eight points, Schultz collected six points and seven boards, while Klanderud chipped in five points and four steals.
Parsons supplied nine points off the Knights’ bench, while Grace Sandmeyer added seven points and three steals.
Fairmont (2-0) plays host to St. James Area at 6 PM Friday in Game 1 of a Big South Conference doubleheader at Cardinal Gym. LCWM (0-2) plays host to Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther on Friday night.
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LCWM     16-23–39
Fairmont   37-27–64
FAIRMONT (64)
Ortega 4-7 2-5 10, Makayla Lowry 5-8 3-6 14, Becker 3-5 1-1 8, Schultz 3-5 0-0 6, Miller 8-13 2-6 19, Klanderud 2-4 1-2 5, Gudahl 0-3 0-0 0, Makenzie Lowry 0-0 0-0 0, Traetow 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-47 9-20 64.
LCWM (39)
Sandmeyer 2-8 3-3 7, Thorson 2-5 2-4 6, Jeddeloh 1-2 0-0 3, Hollerich 1-2 0-0 2, Jordan 4-13 2-3 12, Beecher 0-0 0-0 0, Parsons 4-6 0-0 9, Hanson 0-2 0-0 0, Nachreiner 0-2 0-1 0, Duenes 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-41 7-11 39.
3-pointers: Fairmont 3-6 (Makayla Lowry, Becker and Miller 1 each); LCWM 4-19 (Jordan 2, Jeddeloh and Parsons 1 each). Fouled out: Thorson. Rebounds: Fairmont 40 (Miller 10, Schultz 7); LCWM 21 (Jeddeloh 5). Assists: Fairmont 15 (Miller 5, Ortega 3); LCWM 4. Steals: Fairmont 20 (Miller 5, Klanderud 4); LCWM 10 (Sandmeyer 3).
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LCWM fended off Fairmont 46-44 in double overtime during B-squad action Tuesday night in Fairmont.
Bria Williamson, who nailed a last-second 3-pointer to force the second extra session, finished with 12 points for the Cardinals, while teammate Abbie Simpson contributed 10 points.
Katherine Zelaya supplied seven points for Fairmont, Lauren Zarling scored six points, while Mya Reyes chipped in five points.

Addison Toothaker netted 11 points and five steals to help guide Fairmont to a 51-18 rout over LCWM during C-squad action Tuesday night in Fairmont.
Olive Kawecki and Madi Thompson contributed 10 points to the Cardinals’ winning ways.

PHOTO: PREGAME RITUAL: Fairmont’s Carys Gudahl (right) playfully pretends to shine teammate Ellie Ortega’s shoes prior to Tuesday night’s basketball game against Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial at Cardinal Gym. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)