Norse take control early in lopsided win over Thunder

The Whitehall girls basketball team scored 24 of the first 28 points in its 61-41 win over Osseo-Fairchild on Dec. 20.

The Norse established control early and took a 16-4 lead on a three-pointer by Kyla Lambeck. Haili Sluga added a three before Lambeck scored two straight baskets to put the team ahead, 24-4.

The Thunder offense was better throughout the rest of the game, but the lead stayed at or around 20. Whitehall had a 31-11 lead at halftime and extended it early in the second half before the Thunder got back within 20 late.

The Norse didn’t shoot significantly better from the field than the Thunder, making 28.4 percent to O-F’s 25 percent. Whitehall dominated the glass, finishing with a 62-44 rebounding advantage and the Norse had 17 steals. As a result, Whitehall had 28 points off of turnovers and 22 second-chance points.

Trinity Aasen had a team-high 15 points for Whitehall while Lambeck added 14 and Paige Lisowski finished with 10. 

The win put Whitehall at 5-4 overall before Friday’s game at home against Melrose-Mindoro. The Norse are tied with Mel-Min and Independence/Gilmanton at the top of the Dairyland Conference-Large Division standings with a 5-2 record. 

Whitehall hosts Augusta next Friday. 

Whitehall (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Lisowski 4/15-2/4-7-2-10 Sluga 1/6-1/4-4-1-4 Herman 2/10-0/0-0-2-4 Becker 2/3-0/0-1-0-4 Back 0/0-0/0-0-1-0 Lambeck 6/17-1/2-8-2-14 Ausderau 2/7-2/4-8-3-6 Pank 1/5-1/2-7-0-4 Aasen 7/17-1/2-9-2-15 Klomsten 0/3-0/0-2-0-0 Foss 0/3-0/0-2-0-0 Hensley 0/2-0/0-2-1-0