Fourth trip to state

Posted: April 5, 2011

Girls are runners up in state basketball tournament

by Wilson Kozel

Talon staff writer

The Minnehaha girls varsity basketball team came up short this year in their attempt to repeat as state champions, losing in the championship game 68-61 to the Braham Bombers. The Redhawks beat the Bombers last year 64-46 to win their first state title in any Minnehaha sport since girls soccer in 1998. This was the fourth straight year the team made it to the state tournament, twice in class 3A and the past two years in class 2A.

In the first round of the tournament the Redhawks was a thriller. They were ahead 44-27 midway through the second half, when Jackson County Central Huskies came back into the game, capitalizing on a slew of Redhawk turnovers. With roughly 30 seconds left in the game, senior Leslie Handzus hit a three-pointer to put the Huskies up by one, 59-58. With 15 seconds left, senior Katelyn Adams rebounded junior Gabbi Stienstra’s missed shot and put in the game winning basket, to give the Redhawks a 60-59 win.

The semifinals started out rough for the Redhawks, giving up seven turnovers and going into the locker room at halftime, down 26-23 to the Sauk Center Mainstreeters. Nine minutes into the second half the Redhawks took their first lead of the game with a Stienstra steal and lay up, putting the Redhawks up 35-34. The Mainstreeters tied the game with 5:37 remaining, but a quick three-pointer from Stienstra gave the Redhawks a 42-39 lead. A lead that would not be relinquished as the Redhawks went on to win 50-43, leading them to face Braham in a rematch of last year’s title game.

The first half of the state final game was close. Braham eventually had an eight point lead near the end of the half, but sophomore Nicole Nipper cut it to a five point lead with a three-pointer and junior Andrea Scharf made it a four point lead going to halftime with a free throw. Senior Jana Halstensgard injured her knee with 10 minutes left in the half and was unable to continue playing.

The Bombers came out strong in the second half, soon leading by 13. Several times the Redhawks cut the lead to 5, but the Bombers kept them at arms length. Sarina Baker’s jump shot cut the lead to four with 2:12 remaining, but that was the closest the Redhawks would get.

In the end, Braham sophomore Rebekah Dahlman proved to be too much, scoring 23 points and going 17-18 from the free throw line, 15-16 in the second half. The Bombers proved that they would not be denied two years in a row.

 

You may also like…

Review: “Dial M for Murder” at the Guthrie

Playful adaptation brings Hitchcock classic to classic stage Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, The Guthrie’s Dial M for Murder is a charming and comedic production of a classic theatrical story. The show follows the twisted journey of Tony Wendice — a man plotting to murder...

Consumerism’s dangers and “rewards” programs

Coffee drinkers may not be saving as much as they hope If you think you have enough money to get Starbucks every day and avoid unnecessary advertisements, you’re in for a surprise. Starbucks, however, would like nothing more than to keep you — and your wallet — away...

Reflections on American culture

Compared with life in Slovakia, American routines can be ... surprising Imagine starting a new chapter of your life in a different country in a different part of the world with a different culture and language. Immersed in this new culture, you suddenly realize that...

A new era for girls basketball

New coach brings different philosophy A warm salty drop of sweat falls from your drenched forehead as you are catching your breath. You place your hands on your knees as you watch your legs tremble with aching pain. Just as you regain your strength you hear the...

History and film: fact or fiction

Is the screen an adequate medium for depicting the events of history?    This October, highly-esteemed director Martin Scorsese released a must-see historical spectacle, and the latest addition to his filmmaking oeuvre — Killers of the Flower Moon. Killers of the...