After earning a win against United South Central, the Blue Earth Area girls basketball team advanced in sub-section play.

They took on the New Richland Hartland Ellendale Geneva Panthers in the Mankato East High School gym on Friday, March 1.

The Buccaneers played a tough game but ended up losing, 63-28.

“We came up against a very good team,”?Buc coach Al Cue says. “Our girls worked very hard and gave it everything they had, it just wasn’t enough.”

The Panthers’ Carlie Wagner kicked off the game, scoring the first basket.

“Wagner is an outstanding player and she’s surrounded by many other good players,”?Cue adds.

The first half moved quickly and the Panthers cemented the lead early on.

By the time the clock ran out, NRHEG was more than 20 points ahead of BEA with a score of 35-11.

The Bucs came back from halftime and scored a basket to bump the score to 35-13.

However a foul shot and three-pointer made by the Panthers took away what little momentum BEA had.

BEA had a run in three-point baskets. The successful shooters included Kaitlyn Olsen and Jenna Stevermer.

The Bucs also had several opportunities at the foul line during the second half which helped them tally additional points.

But, when the final buzzer sounded, it was the Panthers that went away with the win, 63-28.

NRHEG grabbed 22 offensive rebounds and 18 defensive. They also managed 19 steals and only 18 turnovers.

BEA, on the other hand, only had five offensive rebounds and 20 defensive. They had eight steals and 3 turnovers.

The Panthers were 16 of 42 from the field, 8 of 31 from the three-point range and 7 of 11 from the foul line.

The Bucs were 8 of 27 with their baskets, 2 of 10 with their three-pointers and 6 of 12 with their free-throw shots.

Krista Hassing brought in a total of ten points by way of baskets and two successful shots from the foul line.

She also grabbed seven rebounds, three on offense and four on defense.

Whitney Pirsig racked up five points. She was 2 for 2 from the field and 1 of 2 from the foul line.

BEA junior Stevermer scored five points. She sank one from behind the three-point mark and had a basket.

Also scoring for the Bucs was Kaitlyn Olsen with three, Ciarra Olson and Janessa Jahnke with two each.

Jahnke grabbed five rebounds, one offensive and four defensive. She also had two steals.

BEA’s loss to NRHEG ended their season.

“This year’s team accomplished a lot and should be very proud of their season,”?coach Cue says.

St. Peter 54, BEA 35

The Bucs traveled to St. Peter to make up a postponed game on Saturday, Feb. 23.

However, BEA didn’t see the successful outcome they had hoped for, and lost by a score of 54-35.

The Saints were accurate with their shots and made a lot of attempts, which is why the Bucs fell short.

St. Peter was 10 of 22 from the field, 6 of 18 with their three-point attempts and 16 of 24 from the foul line.

The Bucs also took a lot of shots but weren’t as successful in scoring.

They made 13 of 50 two-point shots, 2 of 6 three pointers and 3 of 19 from the free-throw line.

However, BEA had 13 steals and 17 turnovers while St. Peter only had 11 steals but turned the ball over 24 times.

The Bucs also grabbed a total of 25 rebounds, 15 on offense and 10 on defense.

St. Peter grabbed 30 rebounds, nine on offense and 21 on defense.

Krista Hassing led the Bucs in scoring, racking up 5 points on seven baskets and a free-throw. She also had five rebounds, five steals and one assist.

Kaitlyn Olsen tallied six points for BEA. She sank one basket, was 1 for 2 with her three-pointers and had one foul shot.

Taylor Grandgennet also scored six points. She had one basket, one three-pointer and one free throw.

Paige Darrington, Janessa Jahnke and Chelsea Owen were the only other scorers for BEA. Darrington had four points, Jahnke had two and Owen two.

Although she didn’t score, Whitney Pirsig grabbed four rebounds for the Bucs, two on offense and two on defense, and also had two steals.