Staff photo by Jeff Meder Springfield’s Olivia Milbrath (middle) dives on the floor for a ball along with Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop’s Madalyn Lee (20) and Taylor Bauer (23) during a Tomahawk-Valley Conference, Tomahawk Division girls basketball game at GFW high school.

By Jeff Meder

sports@nujournal.com

WINTHROP — Springfield defeated Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 57-34 on Friday in a Tomahawk-Valley Conference, Tomahawk Division girls basketball game.

The Tigers came into the contest hurting from a 60-54 loss to Redwood Valley on Thursday. GFW gave the Tigers a lot to think about, but the Tigers were able to secure the win.

Jada Reese led Springfield with 19 points. Kendall Krueger had 13 points and five rebounds, while Emma Hauger added 12 points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists.

GFW used a full-court press for most of the game. It did not faze Springfield because it handled the press well and limited turnovers. Springfield played solid defense, which meant that GFW had to work hard on every possession. Springfield also rebounded well. Jasmine Novotny had six rebounds, Olivia Milbrath had seven rebounds and Ayla Rothmeier had seven rebounds.

“We struggled early with our shooting, but you have to credit the aggressive GFW press,” Springfield head coach Mike Kelly said. “We passed the ball well the last seven to eight minutes of the game.”

Kelly also noted that GFW is a scrappy team and the Tigers had to battle back to regain the momentum and earn the win.

The game started out with both teams keeping it close. The Springfield defense caused turnovers by GFW and made the Thunderbirds miss some shots close to the basket. Springfield exhibited confidence the entire game. GFW remained at 6 points for several minutes.

GFW played better defense late in the first half and it improved upon its rebounding as well. Springfield led 20-11 at halftime.

The Thunderbirds started the second half when they chipped away at the 9-point deficit. Kinley Bruns picked up a loose ball and scored on a layup that made it 21-18. Unfortunately, GFW’s foul troubles followed it into the second half. GFW tried to play more of a half-court defense early in the second half. It eventually went back to the press for the rest of the game.

Taylor Bauer’s basket cut the GFW deficit to 31-26. The turning point of the contest came midway through the second half when a GFW player hit a 3-point shot with the score 33-26. It was ruled no good due a GFW shot clock violation. After that, Springfield started to pull away.

Hauger passed the ball to Kendall Krueger, who scored on the next play. Hauger stole the ball and scored on a fast-break layup. She was also fouled and made the free throw. Reese then scored to make it 40-26 Springfield. Bauer nailed a 3 on the next play. Several plays later, Krueger passed the ball to Reese, who scored a back-door layup.

“We’re very streaky and momentum is very important to us — both ways,” GFW head coach Rich Busse said.

He noted that the Thunderbirds are a young team that is learning as it goes.

Bauer led the Thunderbirds with 7 points. Nicole Duehn and Kinley Bruns each scored 6 points. Kelly Willegal and Kelby Bruns each added 5 points.

Springfield (6-4, 4-2) will host Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (5-4, 2-3) on Tuesday. GFW (2-8, 1-4) will play at Sleepy Eye (7-5, 5-1) on Tuesday.