PRINSBURG - An emphatic first-half run by the Central Minnesota Christian School girls' basketball team proved to be the difference in a 54-48 win over Yellow Medicine East on Thursday night.
Senior guard Kalley Schwitters got it done on both ends, captaining the Bluejays' offense against the zone of the Sting and scoring 14 points while coming away with eight steals. Junior forward Ellie Greenwaldt scored 17 points on 8-for-14 shooting to lead CMCS.
After trailing 9-6 with a stagnant offense in the opening minutes, the Bluejays rattled off a 12-0 run to take an 18-9 lead. That stretch continued for the rest of the half as a 25-9 spurt for CMCS staked it out to a 31-18 halftime advantage.
The Sting came out much more efficient offensively over the final period, but, despite outscoring the Bluejays 30-23 in the second half, could not pull themselves out of the hole they previously dug.
With the win, CMCS improved to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in Camden Conference play, drawing within a half-game of Dawson-Boyd for second place in the North division. YME saw its three-game win streak snapped to fall to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite struggling from deep against the YME zone, the Bluejays utilized size in the paint to shoot 20-for-44 (45 percent) on two-pointers and made eight of 12 free throw attempts.
Senior forward Allison Bulthuis rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Bluejays with 12 points. Senior guard Tori Orred scored four points on only three field-goal attempts, but led the team with eight rebounds.
Coming away with 12 steals as a team, Bluejays' defense remained on a roll with yet another impressive showing, as they held the opponent to under 50 points for the fifth time in the last six games. Over that stretch, CMCS is 4-2. For the Sting, meanwhile, it was the third-lowest single-game scoring output of the season.
The Bluejays are right back in action on Friday with a non-conference showdown on the road against Hendricks at 7:30 p.m. YME is off until Tuesday when it plays hots to Dawson-Boyd at 7:30 p.m.
CMCS 54, YME 48
YME................. 23 30- 48
CMCS................. 31 23 - 54
Yellow Medicine East
ADVERTISEMENT
Stats not provided
Central Minnesota Christian School
Scoring:Ellie Greenwaldt 17, Ashley Roelofs 2, Kalley Schwitters 14, Hannah Nelson 2, Allison Bulthuis 12, Tori Orred 4, Bailey Scott 3 ... 3-point shots: Schwitters 2 ... Rebound leader: Orred 8, Schwitters 7, Bulthuis 6 ... Assist leader: Scott 4 ... Steal leader: Schwitters 8
