By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills Eagles broke a three game losing streak in their Park Region Conference opener last week.

After falling to Underwood, Park Christian and Mahnomen/Waubun in non-conference action in the opening week of the regular season, the Eagles picked up a big conference win over Sebeka by a score of 74-57 on Tuesday night. In their other action last week, the Eagles fell to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference when they lost a tough 51-34 game to Wadena-Deer Creek on Friday night. 

This week the Eagles will host Menahga in their lone action of the week on Thursday night, before hosting Parkers Prairie on Monday as part of a boys-girls doubleheader to close out the 2023 portion of their schedule. 

Tuesday, Nov. 28

Grace Brasel scored 11 of NY Mills’ 14 first half points as the Eagles fell to Underwood on the road by a score of 67-26 on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The only other Eagle to score in the first half of the Eagles’ regular season opener was fellow senior Katherin Garcia who hit a field goal. The Eagles trailed by a score of 42-14 against a high-powered Rocket team, but fought back in the second half as they gave up just 25 points in the final 18 minutes of action.

Brasel led the way offensively with 11 points, while Ayla Olson scored 5 points, Annika Dunrud and Garcia each scored 3 points and Gabi Vaden and Violet Radniecki each scored 2 points to round out the scoring. 

Thursday, Nov. 30

Baskets were falling at a fevered pace on Thursday, Nov. 30 as the Eagles and Park Christian combined for 108 points. Unfortunately, Park Christian expanded upon its 29-26 halftime lead in the second half to come away with a 59-49 win over the Eagles. 

NY Mills was led offensively by Ayla Olson who scored a game-high 17 points. She hit a pair of 3-pointers and went 5-7 from the free throw line. Alayna Baune also reached double figures with 12 points, while Rosemary Laudenbach hit a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 8 points, Grace Brasel scored 6 points, while Katherin Garcia, Violet Radniecki and Abby Riedel rounded out the scoring with 2 points apiece. 

Saturday, Dec. 2

In their third game of the opening week of action, NY Mills fell to Mahnomen/Waubun in non-conference action on Saturday, Dec. 2 by a score of 61-52. 

After a late run pushed the Thunderbirds ahead at halftime by a score of 33-23, the Eagles found quite a bit of success in the second half as they outscored Mahnomen/Waubun by a score of 29-28 in the final 18 minutes of action. The big difference in the game came from behind the 3-point line as the Thunderbirds hit six 3-pointers in the game, including three from Savannah Keezer in the second half alone for Mahnomen/Waubun to hold off a fevered NY Mills charge. The Eagles finished with three 3-pointers including one each from Rosemary Laudenbach, Violet Radniecki and Ayla Olson. 

The Eagles were led offensively by Grace Brasel and Olson who both reached double figures with 16 and 10 points apiece. Alayna Baune and Laudenbach each scored 8 points, Annika Dunrud and Radniecki each scored 3 points, while Katherin Garcia and Abby Riedel both scored 2 points to round out the scoring.