Ashley Olson appears to be fouled.

Heading into their match with the Fairmont Cardinals girls basketball team, the Bucs knew they had to keep the Cards well below their season average of almost 80 points per game if they were to have any chance to pull off an upset.

Of course the other part of the equation is finding a way to come up with enough of your own points to win the game. The Cardinals were close to being a state tournament team last year and their experience and athleticism make them a formidable opponent.

The Bucs had some success with their goal limiting the Cardinal’s offensive output. The problem was they couldn’t find a way to complete the second part of the equation. Fairmont left Blue Earth with a 51-31 victory over the Bucs.

Kate Hassing got the Bucs started on the right foot as she got open for a weak side bucket and later sank 1 of 2 free throws for a 3-0 Bucs lead.

The Bucs would then experience a problem that would hamper them all night. Call it dry spells, drought, runs, or streaks – it doesn’t matter. The result was Fairmont getting points in big chunks with the Bucs unable to stop them.

The first run was for 17 points as the Cards turned that 3-0 deficit into a 17-3 lead. Other dry spells for the Bucs resulted in the Cards having 9-0 and 7-0 run which made it very difficult to mount a comeback.

Trailing 24-9 at the end of the first half, the Bucs scored eight of the first 12 points of the second half to close within 11 points. The last six points came on consecutive 3- pointers by Morgan Dickman and Ashley Olson.

Fairmont quickly shut the door as they scored the next five points to increase their lead to 33-17.

Olivia Skaare was fouled as she put one in from inside the paint and connected on the free throw to make it 33-20.

Again Fairmont stretched the lead as they went on a 12-4 run to make it 45-24 and end any hope of a Bucs comeback.

Leading scorer for the Bucs was Morgan Dickman with eight points while Hayley Pirsig added six.

Each team made three shots from behind the arc, while the Cardinals made 17 conventional field goals to Blue Earth Area’s eight. The Bucs made 6 of 11 free throws while Fairmont hit on 8 of 13.

Fairmont was led in scoring by Alyssa Niss with 15 points. Their well balanced attack also included Sam Waletich with nine, Kirsten True and Stephanie Brolsma with eight each, and Ariel Berhow with seven points.