BENSON -- An 8-0 run early in the second half propelled Minnewaska past Benson and it didn't relinquish the lead after that as the Lakers won their ninth straight with a 62-50 win Friday to stay on top of the West Central South Conference girls basketball standings.
Minnewaska (11-1, 14-3) avenged an earlier 56-47 loss to Benson on Dec. 18 in Glenwood. With Lac qui Parle Valley's win over Morris/Chokio-Alberta, Minnewaska is now alone in first place.
The Braves (5-7, 10-9) led 37-36 before the Lakers, sparked by Cassie Jacobs, went on an 8-0 run to stay in front. Jacobs netted 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half and Sarah Faehnrich followed with 12 points.
Abby Fragodt had 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Braves (5-7, 10-9).
Minnewaska 62, Benson 50
ADVERTISEMENT
Minnewaska (11-1, 14-3) 27 35 -- 62
Benson (5-7, 10-9) 27 23 -- 50
MINNEWASKA - 23-56 FG (1-9 3-pt); 17-28 FT; 30 rebounds; 27 fouls ... Scoring: Sarah Roering 6, Kendra McIver 2, Allie Ostrander 6, Emily Roering 6, Brittany Mensing 2, Sarah Faehnrich 12, Alicia Pfeninger 8, Cassie Jacobs 20 ... 3-point shots: Faehnrich 1 ... Rebound leaders: Jacobs 8 ... Assist leaders: none ... Steal leaders: none
BENSON - 13-44 FG (2-6 3-pt); 20-29 FT; 26 rebounds; 22 fouls ... Scoring: Kayla Hampton 3, Bre Lohn 2, Emily Auch 7, Julia Ahrndt 9, Taylor Semler 2, Jenny Bouta 7, Sarah Ahrndt 3, Abby Fragodt 14, Mallory Jensen 3 ... 3-point shots: S. Ahrndt 1, Fragodt 1 ... Rebound leaders: Fragodt 8, Bouta 6 ... Assist leaders: Fragodt 5 ... Steal leaders: Jensen 3
LQPV 44, Morris/CA 43
Making her first-ever varsity start, LQPV (7-6, 11-6) sophomore Kacey Struxness drained a mid-range jumper as time expired to knock Morris/Chokio-Alberta (9-2, 15-3) out of a first-place tie with Minnewaska.
Micaela Erickson converted a three-point play to put LQPV ahead 42-41, but the Tigers went back in front at 43-42 after Mary Rentz made two free throws with nine seconds left.
Struxness finished with 13 points and Erickson 11 while Whitley Strei and Andrea Rheingans both added 10 more. Rentz led all scorers for Morris/CA with 21 points.
ADVERTISEMENT
Morris/CA (9-2, 15-3) 21 22 -- 43
LQPV (7-6, 11-6) 23 21 -- 44
MORRIS/CHOKIO-ALBERTA - 15-29 FG (1-8 3-pt); 12-22 FT; 20 rebounds; 15 fouls ... Scoring: Kelsey Amundson 3, Mary Rentz 21, Kelly Ritter 2, Nicole Gillespie 7, Jenna Nelson 2, Heather Gagner 4, Alissa Melberg 4 ... 3-point shots: Rentz 1 ... Rebound leaders: Melberg 8 ... Assist leaders: Gagner 4 ... Steal leaders: none
LAC QUI PARLE VALLEY - 16-43 FG (3-13 3-pt); 9-19 FT; 28 rebounds; 19 fouls ... Scoring: Micaela Erickson 11, Whitley Strei 10, Andrea Rheingans 10, Kacey Struxness 13 ... 3-point shots: Strei 2, Erickson 1 ... Rebound leaders: Erickson 8, Struxness 7, Angela Thompson 6 ... Assist leaders: none ... Steal leaders: Strei 4, Rheingans 4
Montevideo 71, BOLD 40
Brooke Tastad hit all three of the Thunder Hawks' three-pointers on the way to scoring 21 points. Beka Schwendemann followed with 17 points and Liz Devorak pumped in 11 more.
Brenna Holwerda scored a career-high 21 points to pace BOLD.
Montevideo (4-8, 4-12) 47 24 -- 71
ADVERTISEMENT
BOLD (1-12, 1-15) 18 22 -- 40
MONTEVIDEO - 28-47 FG (3-7 3-pt); 12-22 FT; 21 rebounds; 20 fouls ... Scoring: Hayley Kubista 2, Ashley Rodeberg 3, Liz Devorak 11, Kaylie Amborn 5, Miranda Kostboth 3, Brooke Tastad 21, Beka Schwendemann 17, Karrissa Larson 4, Jaci Clauson 5 ... 3-point shots: Tastad 3 ... Rebound leaders: not available
BOLD - 11-50 FG (0-3 3-pt); 18-26 FT; 12 rebounds; 19 fouls ... Scoring: Brenna Holwerda 21, Tara Hilgert 8, Brittany Nissen 1, Amber Hosie 2, Brittany Dahlk 8 ... 3-point shots: none ... Rebound leaders: Dahlk 4 ... Assist leaders: Holwerda 3 ... Steal leaders: Hilgert 6
