LHS boys split regular season contests

The Luverne boys’ basketball team split its final two regular season games last week.
The Cardinals lost to Worthington at home Feb. 22 by a score of 84-76 before winning on the road in Minneota, 73-59, Friday night.
Luverne finished the regular season 10-13 overall and 4-7 in Section 3AA play. The team earned the No. 6 seed in the section tournament.
The Cards open the playoffs Saturday night in Fairmont against the No. 3-seeded Cardinals.
Fairmont is 11-11 on the year and 5-2 in section games.
Fairmont defeated Luverne 55-35 on Dec. 11.
Gannon Ahrendt, Luverne's leading scorer, was still injured and did not play in that early-season game.
"Fairmont is a really athletic team, but if we handle their defensive pressure, we will have a chance to beat them," said John Sichmeller, Luverne head coach. 
Pipestone is the No. 1 seed in Section 3AA-South and Redwood Valley is the second seed. 
 
Worthington 84, Luverne 76
The final home game for the Luverne Cardinals didn't turn out as hoped for the Cardinals.
The Worthington Trojans came to the Classic Gym on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and defeated the home team to earn the season sweep over the Cardinals. 
The Trojans led 50-34 at halftime before Luverne mounted a comeback in the second half, outscoring the visitors 42-34 after the half.
It wasn't enough, however, as Worthington held on for the 84-76 victory.
Gannon Ahrendt led the scoring with 32 points. Connor Overgaard totaled 13 points.
Overgaard and Nathaniel Cole-Kraty both tallied seven rebounds for the Cardinals. 
 
Box Score:
Cole-Kraty 1 0 2-6 4, Schoeneman 1 2 0-0 8, Cowell 0 0 0-0 0, Sehr 0 1 1-4 4, Radtke 3 0 3-5 9, De Beer 3 0 0-0 6, Ahrendt 12 1 5-7 32, Overgaard 5 0 3-5 13
 
Team Stats:
Luverne: 29 of 58 (50 percent), 14 of 27 free throws (52 percents), 25 rebounds, 15 turnovers
Worthington: 30 of 46 (65 percent), 17 of 27 free throws (63 percent), 28 rebounds, 23 turnovers
 
Luverne 73,
Minneota 59
The Cardinals wrapped up the 2021-22 regular season on a high note by earning a solid 73-59 victory over the Minneota Vikings in Minneota Friday night. 
"We had some kids who stepped up in the second half after they had closed out lead," said LHS head coach John Sichmeller.
"It was good to see how the kids reacted as we head into the playoffs. They didn't panic and continued to play our game."
Luverne's offense was again led by Ahrendt who had 36 points, including three 3-pointers, in the game.
Connor Overgaard added 10 points for the victors.
Luverne ended the regular season with a record of 10-13. 
 
Box Score:
Cole-Kraty 3 0 1-2 7, Schoeneman 0 1 0-0 3, Frahm 0 0 0-0 0, Cowell 0 0 0-0 0, Sehr 1 0 2-2 4, Radtke 1 1 3-7 8, Friedrichsen 0 0 1-2 1, DeBeer 2 0 0-0 4, Ahrendt 10 3 7-10 36, Overgaard 3 0 4-6 10, Arp 0 0 0-0 0
 
Team Stats:
Luverne: 25 of 47 (53 percent), 18 of 29 free throws (62 percent), 37 rebounds, 13 turnovers
Minneota: 25 of 77 (32 percent), 2 of 6 free throws (33 percent), 42 rebounds, 8 turnovers