SESM wins crosstown game

Pull away in 2nd half over Sleepy Eye

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The Sleepy Eye High School gave the Sleepy Eye St. Mary's girls some trouble in the second quarter, but the Knights pulled away in the second half to win the game 62-34.

Ann Tauer scored the first two points for the Indians, but the Knights pulled ahead 6-2 before the Indians tied it at six on an outside shot by Heather Schewe. After that, the Knights allowed the Indians just four points, and pulled ahead courtesy of two straight three-pointers by Ashley Meyer, and one by Raina Walter. Jonalyn Cook passed to Emily Schwartz for an inside basket to end the quarter ahead 20-10.

"We haven't played well defensively all year, and we got down early," Indian coach Bradd Goede said. "Then you are chasing, trying to catch up, and you can only do that so many times."

After Walter made two freethrows and Ariel Krenz made a shot to start the second quarter, taking a 12 point lead, Allie Renberg made a short jumper for the Indians to trail 24-12. The Indians made the next six shots, holding the Knights to just those four points for the quarter. Ashley Roiger made a jumper from the freethrow line to tie the game at 24 going into halftime.

The four-point quarter was the exception in a good game for the Knights.

"One thing we have been trying to get over is inconsistency," Knight coach Bruce Woitas said. "We don't play well all four quarters, but I think we responded well at half time and had a really positive third quarter.

"You just can't go with an eight minute letdown and win games down the stretch," he said.

The two teams took turns in the lead early in the second half. Krenz made a shot inside, and Meyer sunk a three right after to take a lead that lasted the length of the quarter. Allie Renberg brought the Indians up to trail 35-30 with a post play, but the Knights kept them at bay with another three by Walter, who scored 11 points, and a put back by Cook. Schwartz made a jumper from the side, and Cook passed to Walter for a fast break bucket to end the quarter ahead by 14, 44-30.

"We all realized twe had to pick it up, get it to who2's hot, get it to the post, and pick it up on defense," senior Ashley Meyer, who scored 16 points for the Knights, said. "Defense is what gets us games -- once we get steals and get on a run."

Meyer also had three steals, while teammate Cook had six steals to go with her eight points.

The Knights' gain in intensity was accentuated by the Indian's lack of it.

"We didn't come out aggressive," senior guard Ann Tauer, who scored 12 points for the Indians, said. "In the first half, we did everything right, but in the second half, our passing was terrible, and we couldn't rebound."

The Indians have been battling a second half slowdown in the majority of their games -- something the team members and coaches see, but haven't found the answer to yet.

"We are a fast starting team," Goede said. "The second half should just be another start, but we need to work on our decision making. We are a young team -- other teams make adjustments, and hopefully we are learning to make those adjustments."

The Indians could have used adjustments after the third quarter, but the Knights continued to pull ahead, and the Indians didn't score points in the fourth quarter until Renberg made two freethrows with 3:40 on the clock, followed by a shot by Roiger to make it 55-33. The Knights continued to make their free throws and held the Indians, ending the game 62-34.

St. Mary's upped their record to 5-5 in the Tomahawk and 7-6 overall. The Indians are 1-9 in the conference and 1-12 overall.

St. Mary's hosts Buffalo-Lake Hector Tuesday, and the Indians play at Cedar Mt.

Red Rock Central 45,

Southwest Christian 29

JEFFERS -- Red Rock Central held Southwest Christian to just 15 points in the first three quarters as the Falcons caught a 45-29 win Thursday.

Despite low shooting percentages and a low halftime score of 16-11, RRC outscored SWC 19-4 in the third quarter.

Blair Meyer scored eight points and Julia Grams and Colleen Kietzer each scored seven for the Falcons. For SWC, Danielle VandeWoude and Ashley Zeinstra each scored five.

The Falcons were out-rebounded, but they made up for it in turnovers, causing SWC to lose the ball 36 times.

Molly Arndt grabbed six rebounds for RRC, Christa Fishel had six steals and Andrea Kirchner had three assists and five steals.

RRC is now 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Red Rock Conference. They play at Wabasso Saturday.

RRC 8 8 19 10--45

SWC 5 6 4 14--29

Hills-Beaver Creek 54,

Comfrey 46

COMFREY -- Hills-Beaver Creek used a 21 point fourth quarter to come away with a 54-46 Red Rock Conference victory.

Comfrey led the game 35-33 going into the final quarter but Hills-Beaver Creek outscored the Rockets 21-11 to get the win. Two Comfrey players fouled out at the end and the Rockets were not able to overcome that.

Hills-Beaver Creek was led by Erin Boobe who scored 20 points and Kassi Tilstra who had 18 points.

The Patriots improve to 8-5 overall and 5-4 in the Red Rock Conference.

Holli Peterson led Comfrey with 15 points as the Rockets fall to 5-8 overall and 2-7 in the Red Rock.