Rabbits hold off MVL

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Katie Schumacher was the Wabasso girls' savior in the Rabbits' race against Minnesota Valley Lutheran Monday.

Schumacher made a basket with fewer than 15 seconds remaining to put the Rabbits up 56-53, then raced down on defense to end MVL's hopes of a win, blocking Amanda Dettman's 3-point attempt just before the buzzer.

"We knew we had to make a final basket and play good defense," Schumacher said. "If I had fouled her, I'd have been toast. I couldn't foul her, but I had to get a hand in her face so she couldn't get an open look."

One 3-pointer was the difference in the game. Both teams made three free throws and 19 from the floor, but Wabasso was 5-for-17 on 3-pointers and MVL was 4-for-18.

Dettmann had hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to keep MVL within range to catch the Rabbits; Wabasso was up 50-45 with four minutes left. Sophomore Kelsey Krohn's putback after a bucket by Kelsey Black made it 54-53, Wabasso, before Schumacher's basket sealed the Rabbits' win.

Schumacher ended the game with 16 points and eight rebounds. Black scored eight points and nine rebounds for MVL, and Krohn had six points.

"[Schumacher] had some big rebounds and putbacks," Wabasso coach Neil Dolan said about the 6-foot 1 junior. "She is a big inside presence and has soft hands ... and she has fire."

The Chargers had defensive fire at times in the game, generating a fast break offense in the first half with their steals. In the first quarter, the Rabbits went up 8-3, but MVL's Lisa Petersen made three straight fast break buckets and Black tied the game 9-9 with a free throw. After the first quarter, Wabasso was up 18-11. A Karissa Kramer steal led to a Petersen fast break to tie it 20-20. But Wabasso's Jessica VanLoy made a shot and a 3-pointer, followed by a Andrea Fennern three to go up 28-20. VanLoy had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple-double, and Fennern had 12 points.

Two more Charger fast break buckets sent the Rabbits into the locker room up 28-26. Petersen scored all 12 of her points in the first half -- most on fast break plays.

"Before the game, we talked about how we wanted to play hard and hustle," Petersen said. "It was a tough game ... both teams worked hard."

"They came out with nothing to lose -- their kids came out very aggressive, and we came out not attacking the front line," Dolan said. "We couldn't get past the top."

The Chargers had 26 steals in the game -- a good chunk of Wabasso's 32 turnovers. Allie Krenz had seven steals for MVL. MVL had 24 turnovers, and VanLoy had seven steals.

"We weren't passing as well as we should have been," Schumacher said. "We gave up so many buckets off of that, it's unbelievable."

"Lately, we've played great defense, as far as smothering the ball and going for steals," MVL coach Dave Biedenbender said. "This game, we had a couple of lulls when we gave them shots, then we came back and played crazy defense."

One of those lulls was early in the third quarter, when Schumacher had two baskets, Ashley Prokosch had a basket, and Fennern made a 3-pointer to lead 39-34 and the Rabbits began the fourth 43-39.

Prokosch had 11 points for the Rabbits.

The Rabbits (18-0) play at Cathedral today. MVL (20-6, 15-3) hosts Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Monday in Section 2AA West action.