By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's Lauren Sandstrom wasn't in tip-top shape physically Monday night, nursing an ankle sprain the 5-foot-10 sophomore suffered in Friday night's loss to Seaman.
But you might have a hard time convincing Tonganoxie of that after Sandstrom recorded a double-double with a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in the Wildcats' 42-27 non-league victory at Hayden.
"All my teammates made really good passes,'' Sandstrom said. "They just found me. Altogether we had a really good offense. We were moving the ball really well and I just took my chances when I had them.''
Hayden sophomore Lauren Sandstrom had a double-double Monday night with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the Wildcats' 42-27 win over Tonganoxie. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sandstrom got her night off to a good start with four points in the first quarter and six in the half before starting a 13-point second half with a 3-pointer.
Sandstrom said that getting off to a good start was a big plus.
"If I would have missed the first couple it would have been hard for me to get back into it and keep shooting,'' she said. "It did help that I was hitting them early.''
Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said that Sandstrom continues to make strides for the Wildcats.
"When we get her involved we're a much better team for sure,'' Reynoldson said.
Hayden, which improved to 9-7 on the season, led 12-8 after one quarter, 21-13 at the half and 31-23 at the start of the fourth quarter before putting the Chieftains away with an 11-4 scoring edge over the final eight minutes.
As a team Hayden was struggling offensively in the opening half, but the Wildcats were playing good enough defense that it didn't really matter, with Hayden going wire to wire for the victory.
"One thing I feared was energy because we played Friday and then had the (winter formal) on Saturday,'' Reynoldson said. "Monday's are rare games, so I was really pleased with the defensive effort.
"I thought we ran good offense, we just missed so many layups in the first half it was unbelievable.''
Sandstrom was the only player in double figures for the Wildcats, but seniors Macy Smith and Carly Stuke both added eight points.
Senior Raegan Seba scored 13 points for Tonganoxie (6-11), but was the only Chieftain with more than seven points.
Hayden will be right back in action Tuesday, hosting Topeka West in a Centennial League contest. The Chargers are coming off a 54-22 league win at Junction City last Friday.
Tuesday's junior varsity contest will start at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity game at approximately 6:30.
HAYDEN GIRLS 42, TONGANOXIE 27
Tonganoxie 8 5 10 4 -- 27
Hayden 12 9 10 11 -- 42
Tonganoxie (6-11) -- Baldock 2-8 3-4 7, Sunderland 0-3 1-2 1, Seba 6-15 0-0 13, Long 1-4 1-2 3, Aaron 1-6 0-0 3, Isaacs 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-36 5-8 27.
Hayden (9-7) -- Lenherr 0-1 0-0 0, Sandstrom 9-16 0-0 19, Smith 3-11 1-2 8, Stuke 2-7 3-4 8, Meier 1-4 0-0 2, Grunert 0-3 1-2 1, Anguiano 0-2 0-0 0, Huscher 0--0 0-0 0, Schmidtlein 0-0 0-0 0, Greco 1-4 2-2 4. Totals 16-48 7-10 42.
3-point goals -- Tonganoxie 2 (Seba, Aaron), Hayden 3 (Sandstrom, Smith, Stuke). Total fouls -- Tonganoxie 10, Hayden 12. Fouled out – none.
