Tigers tear apart Mayer Lutheran

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

MANKATO -- Over the next few days, the Springfield High girls basketball team needs to get used to a raised floor.

The Tigers used solid defense and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to hold off Mayer Lutheran 51-41 in Class 1A state quarterfinal action at MSU-Mankato's Taylor Center.

Springfield, now 25-2 on the season, will face either Cook County (24-2) or Eden Valley/Watkins (27-2) in semifinal action Friday, 3 p.m., at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. The Crusaders end their season with a 21-8 mark.

"We're going to The Barn!" said center Amy Lipetzky, who led the Tigers with game-highs in both points (15) and rebounds (13). "I don't know what to say. ... It's just an awesome feeling. I can't describe it.

"Our philosophy was to play defense and rebound, and we were able to do our stuff."

Lipetzky's three-point play got the Tigers off on the right foot, and an Ashley Marks fast-break bucket followed by a Sara Anderson 3-pointer pushed the lead quickly to 8-2. A Thea Schrupp trey pulled the Crusaders within a point but a Brittany Feser jumper followed by a Lipetzky free throw gave Springfield an 11-7 lead at the end of one.

"We played a little out of control all night," Tiger coach Paul Arnoldi said. "(Mayer) did some nice things defensively and we had some trouble cooling down, but once we started taking care of the ball it was the key to the game."

Two quick baskets pulled Mayer even, but the Crusaders wouldn't score another point until a Laurie Feltmann jumper with 1:21 remaining in the half. Springfield used that time to go on a 13-0 run, punctuated by two Taryn Runck baskets, two Lipetzky putbacks and another Anderson trey. Feser would bring the half to a close with a baseline jumper at the buzzer to give the Tigers a commanding 13-point lead at the break. Lipetzky showed her worth inside with eight points and six boards in the first half.

"She's been that way all year long," Arnoldi said of his 5-foot-11 senior post. "When we need a big basket, we need to get her the ball. Our kids like to shoot the ball, but when it comes crunch time it's usually her inside with a drop-step."

Lipetzky would be most of the Tiger offense in the third quarter, scoring the first three points of the second half. A Feltmann 3-pointer pulled Mayer within 31-22, but Lipetzky would answer with two more baskets as Springfield's lead was nine, 37-28, at the end of three.

Melissa Scheele, held scoreless in the first half, scored 11 points in the second half. Her three-point play followed by a putback had the Tigers reeling, pulling Mayer within 43-36 at the three-minute mark.

"We just ran out of gas a little," Lipetzky said of the Crusaders' surge. "I don't know. ... We just telling each other to keep fighting, that we're still in this and it's not over yet."

It came down to free throws, and the Tigers did what was necessary. Feser and Anderson combined to hit 6-of-8 in the final 2:23, and Marks' fast-break layup with :14 remaining sent the Springfield crowd into hysterics as the Tigers advanced with the 10-point win.

"Sara made some big (free throws), and so did Brittany," Arnoldi said. "I've told the team that they have to work on free throws because they're going to be important come tournament time, and that was one of the keys for us tonight."

Feser and Anderson combined for 20 points, seven rebounds and seven steals for Springfield. Marks finished with eight points and five boards, and Runck ended with six points and eight rebounds.

Feltmann's 12 points led the Crusaders, with Scheele ending with six boards to go along with her 11 points.

So, what about the raised floor?

"I don't think we'll have any problem with that," Arnoldi said with a smile.

MAYER LUTHERAN 7 8 13 13--41

SPRINGFIELD 11 17 9 14--51

MAYER LUTHERAN (41): Feltmann 12, Scheele 11, Drusch 6, Schrupp 5, Olson 2, Henschen 2, Stuewe 2, Oltrogge 1.

SPRINGFIELD (51): Lipetzky 15, Feser 10, Anderson 10, Marks 8, Runck 6, Erickson 2.