Girls open with split at Hamline

The New Prague Trojan girls basketball team split a pair of games at the Pat Patterson Invitational at Hamline University in St. Paul last week. The Trojans opened their season Friday, Nov. 23, against St. Paul Central and lost 59-46. They followed with an impressive 58-33 win over Monticello Saturday. New Prague was scheduled to host Austin Tuesday, Nov. 27. They will travel to Mankato East Thursday, Nov. 29, and to Waconia Tuesday, Dec. 4. Minutemen 59, Trojans 46 The Trojans kept the game close in the first half, but a run early in the second half gave St. Paul Central a lead the Trojans weren’t able to overcome in a 59-46 loss. Cold shooting by the Trojans and an aggressive rebounding effort by Central were the difference. New Prague shot just 11 of 41 from the field and Central had a 37-29 rebounding edge, including 11 offensive rebounds. Lexi Ruehling led the Trojans with 14 points, while Ella Grote had 11. Others scoring were Annie Dittberner and Jess Allar with 5 each, Steph Hanson and Kayla Kroyer 4 each and Maize Deihl with 3. Dittberner had seven rebounds and two assists to lead the Trojans, while Hanson had a pair of steals.

Trojans 58, Magic 33 New Prague led by seven at halftime, then pulled away in the second d half for a 58- 33 win over Monticello Saturday. Monticello was a state tournament team last season. New Prague’s shooting and rebounding improved in this game, as the Trojans made 22 of 54 from the field and held a 36-24 advantage on the boards. Dittberner and Ruehling had 15 points each. Others scoring were Hanson with 9, Deihl with 6, Kroyer 5 and Rachel Haecherl, Ashley Altschul, Grote and Maddie Giesen with 2 each. Ruehling and Hanson each pulled down seven rebounds, with Dittberner adding six. Hanson had five steals and a blocked shot, and Ruehling blocked two. Hanson also had five assists.