BEA junior Caitlin Rorman in action during sub-sectional competition against St. Peter. Blue Earth Area ended the 2017-2018 season with a 17-12 record.

Although the girls from Blue Earth Area gave it a valiant effort, they were unable to knock off top seeded St. Peter in the Section 2, Class 2AA sub-sectional south region tournament semifinals.

Traveling to Mankato State University for the big game, the Bucs shot slightly better than the Saints from the field. BEA’s 32.5 percent shooting topped St. Peter’s 30.6 percent output.

Rebounds in the contest were nearly identical as BEA collected 31 boards, compared to 30 for St. Peter. However, turnover woes were too much to overcome for the maroon and gold.

In the game, BEA committed 17 turnovers, compared to just eight for St. Peter. The Saints put Blue Earth Area ball handlers under heavy pressure as they collected 13 steals on the evening.

Once again, Buc junior Caitlin Rorman paced the team in scoring with 16 points. Teammate Hannah Johnson added five, while seniors Sophie Blair and Lindsey Norman each chipped in with four points apiece.

BEA 52, NR-HEG 45

After dispatching the Fairmont Cardinals in the opening round of the Section 2, Class 2AA south region sub-sectionals, the Blue Earth Area Buccaneers traveled to Mankato East High School for their quarterfinal showdown with third seeded New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva on Friday, March 2.

The maroon and gold came out on the winning end of a 52-45 score. As a result, the red hot Bucs notched their eighth consecutive victory, a streak which began back on Feb. 5.

BEA got the job done thanks to forcing 24 Panther turnovers in the game. The girls from Blue Earth Area were able to convert New Richland’s miscues into 19 Buc points. For the game, the Buccaneers registered 15 steals on the evening.

Junior Caitlin Rorman led all scorers in the game with 27 points. The Bucs leading point producer shot 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-10 at the charity stripe. She also collected six rebounds, and led the team in steals with five.

Meanwhile, Hannah Johnson registered 17 points and grabbed five boards for Blue Earth Area. Senior Lindsey Norman did a little of everything for the Bucs as she added four points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a blocked shot.