Girls Basketball: Menahga's defense leads way in win over Henning

Forcing 25 turnovers and holding Henning to only 10 points in the first half led the Menahga girls basketball team to a 59-25 Park Region Conference victory at Menahga on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

A layup and a 3-pointer by Maryn Pinoniemi and inside baskets by Janie Tormanen and Lela Peterson gave the Braves a 9-4 lead before four layups by Tormanen, a pair of 3-pointers by Peterson, and 3-pointers by Mackenzie Anderson and Janelle Hendrickson sparked a 21-6 run that gave Menahga a 30-10 advantage at the half.

The Braves opened the second half with a 20-4 run as three layups and a 3-pointer by Pinoniemi, a 3-pointer and a layup by Peterson, and layups by Allie Pfeifer, Tormanen and Joie Koll produced a 50-14 advantage. Two baskets by Anderson and a jumper by Leah Weaver capped off the scoring.

Pinoniemi (14), Peterson (13) and Tormanen (12) combined for 39 points with Tormanen, Pfeifer and Weaver pulling down four rebounds each. Peterson dished out four assists and Amanda Lake had four steals for Menahga.

The Braves improved to 2-1 while Henning fell to 1-2 in the conference opener for both teams.

HENNING: Fisher 2 2-2 6, Fraki 1 0-0 2, Hart 1 0-4 2, Eckhoff 3 0-0 8, Misegades 2 0-0 4, Gunderson 1 0-1 3. Totals: 10 for 36 (FG), 2 for 7 (FT).

MENAHGA: Anderson 3 1-2 8, M. Pinoniemi 6 0-0 14, Peterson 5 0-0 13, T. Pinoniemi 0 0-0 0, Hendrickson 1 0-0 3, A. Pinoniemi 0 0-0 0, Lake 0 1-2 1, Tormanen 6 0-0 12, Koll 1 0-0 2, Pfeifer 1 0-0 2, Weaver 1 2-2 4. Totals: 24 for 49 (FG), 4 for 6 (FT).

Halftime: Menahga 30, Henning 10. Three-pointers: Eckhoff 2, Gunderson 1, Anderson 1, M. Pinoniemi 1, Peterson 3. Team fouls: Menahga 13, Henning 4. Rebounds: Menahga 24 (Tormanen 4, Pfeifer 4, Weaver 4, A. Pinoniemi 3, Peterson 2, Hendrickson 2, Lake 2, Anderson 1, T. Pinoniemi 1, Koll 1). Assists: Menahga 15 (Peterson 4, Pfeifer 3, Lake 3, Tormanen 3, A. Pinoniemi 1, Koll 1). Steals: Menahga 15 (Lake 4, Peterson 3, Hendrickson 2, Koll 2, Anderson 1, Tormanen 1, A. Pinoniemi 1, Pfeifer 1). Blocked shots: Menahga 2 (Lake 1, Weaver 1). Turnovers: Henning 25, Menahga 11.