Second-half surge gets Stewartville past Grand Rapids in 3A girls basketball quarterfinal

Stewartville utilizes its speed to leak out on the fast break. It's not afraid to turn to freshman center Ella Theobald in the paint when it stalls.

Both methods were efficient in helping the Tigers build a 14-point lead early in the second half en route to a 71-57 victory over Grand Rapids in the Class 3A girls basketball state tournament quarterfinals Wednesday at Maturi Pavilion. It was Stewartville's 25^th consecutive victory.

"We played more together, cohesive in the second half," Stewartville coach Ryan Liffrig said. "We were relaxed."

Theobald scored 10 of the Tigers' first 12 points in the second half, helping them to a 47-33 lead. She had 16 of her career-high 18 points in the second half. Once Stewartville (28-2) established her in the post, it freed up its three-point shooters.

"We talked about getting the ball inside at halftime," Liffrig said. "Ella set the tone. Once they collapsed inside, we were able to kick it out for threes."

Stewartville freshman guard Audrey Shindelar scored 13 points and junior guard Savannah Hedin 11. The Tigers finished with seven three-pointers.

Junior forward Jessika Lofstrom's 18 points led four players in double figures for Grand Rapids (26-3). Grand Rapids played without leading scorer Taryn Hamling, a senior guard. Hamling, committed to North Dakota State, averaged 22.7 points per game.