By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills Eagles split a pair of games to open their regular season, while a third game was postponed on Friday night due to illness and injuries within the Sebeka Trojan program.

The Eagles opened their regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 26 when NY Mills traveled to one of the favorites in Section 6A in the Underwood Rockets. The Eagles trailed 27-23 at halftime, but outscored the Rockets in the final 18 minutes of action by a 25-24 margin. Unfortunately, Underwood was able to do just enough down the stretch as they hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half and went 6-7 from the free throw line to come away with a 51-48 win.

NY Mills was led by a trio of scorers who all reached double figures, including Gabi Vaden who hit a pair of 3-pointers to finish with a team-high 13 points, while Alayna Baune and Ayla Olson each finished with 11 points. Annika Dunrud scored six points, while Rosemary Laudenbach scored five and Chloe Costin scored two points in the loss. 

On Tuesday night the Eagles picked up their first win of the season and opened their conference schedule with an impressive 61-26 win over Verndale. 

NY Mills was hitting on all cylinders in the first half as they took a 40-9 lead at halftime thanks to a tough defensive showing that allowed just two field goals in the opening 18 minutes of action. For the game, NY Mills gave up just nine field goals as the Pirates hit a pair of 3-pointers and five two-point shots in the second half. 

The Eagles were led offensively by Ayla Olson who scored 18 points, while Alayna Baune scored 15 points that included 10 points in the first half alone. 

Rosemary Laudenbach scored nine points, Annika Dunrud and Violet Radniecki scored six points apiece, while Chloe Costin scored four points and Gabi Vaden rounded out the scoring with three points.

This week the Eagles will host Park Rapids Area as part of a boys-girls doubleheader, before hosting Wadena-Deer Creek on Friday night as part of another boys-girls doubleheader.