AREA HS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Kelliher-Northome's Lutz reaches 1,000th point milestone

KELLIHER – Katey Lutz scored her 1,000th point Tuesday to lead Kelliher-Northome to a 57-48 victory at Lake of the Woods.

The senior forward has helped K-N open the year with a 4-2 record. Among the victories was a 75-50 home triumph over Nevis a week ago.

Against the Tigers, Kelliher-Northome’s defense set the tone as the Mustangs led 34-15 at intermission. Shelene Head hit six 3-pointers in the opening period and she finished with 20 points.

Lutz had 23 points and Kelly Heck 17 points.

Carrie Carrigan grabbed 15 rebounds and Mary Pula had five steals and four boards.

On Friday the Mustangs dropped a 75-46 decision to Pine River-Backus.

“I feel the girls were a step off their pace after their exhausting game the night before,” said K-N coach Justin Lundin. “We just couldn’t get into our tempo.”

Bre Salmonson scored 12 points and Lutz was limited to 15.

Lutz entered Tuesday’s game against Lake of the Woods needing eight points to reach 1,000.

With 7:30 to play in the first half she reached that milestone. Lutz finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and three assists.

Head had 16 points and Heck 14 points. Mandy Pula iced the win by canning three inside shots late in the contest.

The Mustangs are off until Dec. 20 when they host Blackduck.

Red Lake is off to a tremendous start as the Warriors improved to 4-0 Tuesday with an 87-19 win over Laporte.

Red Lake led 41-9 at the break and Laporte never threatened.

Averi Holthusen scored 32 points while Grace White had 15.

The Warriors are at Cass Lake-Bena today in their final pre-Christmas contest.

Bagley lost 57-49 last week to Clearbrook-Gonvick but defeated Mahnomen 58-38 Tuesday to improve to 3-2.

The Flyers trailed C-G only 28-27 at the break but the Bears eventually took control.

Sean Benson had 20 points for Bagley and Kari Skersick had 13.

“It was a good game. Our girls really played well but we just didn’t come out on top,” said Bagley coach Brandon Schwegel.

In the win over Mahnomen Skersick had 28 points and Jaysha Pemberton scored 10 points.

The Flyers host Fertile-Beltrami Friday and visit Fosston on Tuesday.

In other recent area girls basketball action Cass Lake-Bena fell to 0-4 with Tuesday’s 62-47 loss at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, Clearbrook-Gonvick improved to 5-0 with its win over Bagley and Blackduck dipped to 0-4 after losing 69-38 at Nevis.

Cass Lake-Bena is off until the holiday break while C-G hosts Nevis Friday and heads to Blackduck on Tuesday.

Blackduck also visits Red Lake County Central today.

Boys Basketball

Red Lake will shoot for its fifth straight win to open the season Friday when it hosts WHA. The Warriors improved to 4-0 Tuesday with a 92-52 win over Laporte.

Red Lake began the year with a 78-47 victory over RLCC and also has stopped Goodridge-Grygla 73-67 and Ada-Borup 63-60.

Blackduck upped its record to 3-1 Tuesday when it stopped Nevis 61-58. The Drakes also have defeated Laporte 81-33 and Lake Park-Audubon 70-49 but have lost 57-46 to Win-E-Mac.

Blackduck hosts Littlefork-Big Falls Friday.

Kelliher-Northome is 2-1 after last week’s 74-51 win over Pine River-Backus and Tuesday’s 82-18 pasting of Lake of the Woods.

The Mustangs host Clearbrook-Gonvick Friday and travel to Hill City on Tuesday.

Laporte fell to 0-6 Tuesday when it lost to Red Lake. The Wildcats will try for their first win Saturday when they host Lake of the Woods.

Bagley is 1-3 after being edged 51-49 Tuesday by Mahnomen. The Flyers host Fertile-Beltrami Friday, visit Fosston Monday and welcome Crookston Tuesday.

Clearbrook-Gonvick is 1-2 after last week’s 92-72 loss at Bagley. The Bears will continue their road swing today at Badger-Greenbush-Middle River and Friday at Kelliher-Northome.

Cass Lake-Bena also is 1-2 following Tuesday’s 73-59 loss at WHA. The Panthers visit Red Lake today in their final pre-Christmas outing.