Blue Earth Area outscored Belle Plaine 10-2 over the last 6:30 as the Buccaneers defeated the Tigers 53-42 in sub-section girls basketball last Tuesday night.

“At times we made some poor decisions,” remarked Bucs Coach Al Cue, “But I was happy with the way we played the last five-six minutes. We took care of the ball well.”

The Tigers scored the opening bucket of the game but then watched the Bucs score the next 10 points, taking a 10-2 lead.

It appeared the Bucs might have a chance to build an even larger lead, but they missed free throws and scoring opportunities on the offensive end of the court – allowing the Tigers to close the gap and pull within one point at half time, 20-19.

Emily Kiehr made two free throws to give Belle Plaine the lead to start the second half. It would be short-lived as the Bucs hit a trio of 3-pointers to take an eight point lead. Morgan Dickman sank the first two and Ashley Olson added a third as the lid seemed to come off the basket for the Bucs.

Kiehr and Chelsea Fogarty, the only two seniors on the Tigers’ squad, kept the game close as they scored their teams first 13 points of the second half and 31 of their teams’ 42 points.

Kiehr’s basket brought the Tigers within two points of the Bucs at 34-32. Meghan Mittelstadt’s 3-pointer and Hayley Pirsig’s two free throws gave the Bucs a 7-point cushion with 10:35 left to play.

Once again, the Tigers closed the gap. Their basket at the 6:27 mark made it a three point game and resulted in a Bucs’ timeout being called.

With the Bucs leading 43-40, Olson followed two successful free throws with a steal at half court. The resulting layup gave Blue Earth Area a 47-40 advantage.

Pirsig was fouled while muscling a shot in under the basket. She missed the free throw, but the Bucs grabbed the rebound and ran 70 seconds off the clock before Pirsig was fouled again. This time she made one of two charity shots, giving the Bucs a 50-40 lead with 2:35 to play.

The Tigers could manage only one more basket as the Bucs ran time off the clock to close out the game.

Kiehr and Forgarty led all scorers as they tallied 19