MONTEVIDEO -- MACCRAY's height overshadowed Lac qui Parle Valley's quickness, leading the Wolverines to a 61-52 win in the Section 3AA-North title game Friday.
The Wolverines will face St. James for the Section 3AA title at 5 p.m. next Friday at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall.
MACCRAY (20-6) with five players 5-foot-10 or taller, outrebounded and stuffed the Eagles' four guards and a center, but not before Lac qui Parle Valley made the game interesting.
The Wolverines held a lead as big as eight points in the first half, but the Eagles kept crawling back. Mindy Clark hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to five, then Amber Moen sank a basket and Clark netted two free throws to get as close as 22-19.
But MACCRAY's Amanda Bonnema scored with 17 seconds left to give the Wolverines a 24-19 halftime lead.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pace picked up in the second half, with LQPV putting together small runs to get the deficit to two and then one point.
Finally, the Eagles took their only lead, 38-37, at the 10:35 mark on a Madeline Gail three-pointer.
It was short-lived. MACCRAY's offensive punch came from an unexpected source. Danielle Goeman, a 5-8 guard, scored 21 points to lead the team. She recorded 11 in the first half and her three-point play in the second half gave the Wolverines the lift to retake the lead.
MACCRAY kept LQPV's shooters under wraps, holding them to 31 percent (17 of 54) from the floor.
"Our defense played very well and we had a hand in their shooters all the time," said MACCRAY coach Dale Peterson.
The Wolverines also blocked six shots and altered a number of others. Kari Caspers led the team with three blocks.
Down the stretch, MACCRAY stayed patient, looking for opening and taking advantage of overpursuing LQPV defenders outscore the Eagles 11-6 in the last 3:17.
Tory Brouwer added 13 points and six rebounds for MACCRAY. Hilary Groothuis had 12 points and seven rebounds. Christine Condon dished out 12 assists.
ADVERTISEMENT
Clark led the Eagles with 19 points and had seven boards. Kayla Rheingans, the team's only 6-footer, followed with 13 points and eight rebounds.
MACCRAY 61, LQPV 52
MACCRAY (20-6) 24 37 -- 61
LQPV (12-14) 19 33 -- 52
MACCRAY - 25-70 FG (2-9 3 pt); 9-17 FT; 30 rebounds; 18 fouls ... Scoring: Christine Condon 6, Danielle Goeman 21, Ashley Beseman 1, Tory Brouwer 13, Hilary Groothuis 12, Amanda Bonnema 2, Ashley Alsum 6 ... 3-point shots: Condon 1, Goeman 1 ... Rebound leader: Groothuis 7, Brouwer 6 ... Assist leader: Condon 12 ... Steal leader: Brandy Woodring 2, Goeman 2, Condon 2 ... Blocks: Kari Caspers 3, Alsum 2
LAC QUI PARLE VALLEY - 17-54 FG (5-19 3 pt); 13-20 FT; 30 rebounds; 19 fouls ... Scoring: Melanie Gail 9, Amber Moen 4, Mindy Clark 19, Madeline Gail 6, Kayla Rheingans 13, Micaela Erickson 1 ... 3-point shots: Melanie Gail 1, Clark 2, Madeline Gail 2 ... Rebound leader: Rheingans 8, Clark 7 ... Assist leader: Clark 6 ... Steal leader: Madeline Gail 3
