×
×
homepage logo

BEA girls drop two conference games

Pressure defense by Cards and Eagles effective versus young Bucs

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Dec 26, 2021

BEA’s Maddie Schiltz (21) scores two of her 26 points in the Bucs’ game against New Ulm.

The Blue Earth Area girls basketball team had a tough time handling the ball-hawking pressure of the Fairmont Cardinals’ defense when the two teams met in Fairmont on Dec. 21.

The result was an 83-37 triumph for the Cardinals.

Although the score was close in the opening minutes, Fairmont used their full-court pressure to score points in bunches to take a 44-16 lead at the half.

Maddie Schiltz led the team in scoring with 10 points and in rebounding with six. Olivia Dutton and Lola Lundquist each tallied six points.

BEA’s record now stands at 2-5.

The Bucs will be in action again when they host their holiday tournament beginning with a game against Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29.

New Ulm 74, BEA 55

It was a battle of speed and quickness versus height when the New Ulm Eagles came to Blue Earth on Friday, Dec. 17, to take on the Buccaneers.

The Eagles used their speed to attack the basket and score on some drives. When BEA’s defense stiffened, New Ulm’s players stepped back and sank 3-pointers. The end result was New Ulm winning by a final score of 74-55.

BEA senior Maddie Schiltz worked hard underneath the basket to try and keep the game close.

The 5-foot-9 senior forward had a double-double in the game with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

New Ulm scored the opening basket on a jumper from the corner of the free-throw line. The Eagles then put on the pressure and turned a steal into a fastbreak layup and a 4-0 lead.

The Bucs broke the press of the Eagles on their next possession with Kate Armon finding Sophie Keister for an easy basket.

BEA’s defense stopped New Ulm and then tied the score when Schiltz grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in the hoop.

New Ulm scored the next four points before Schiltz grabbed another of her 10 rebounds and scored to narrow the Eagles’ lead to 8-6.

Unfortunately for the Bucs, the Eagles scored the next 12 points to take a 20-8 lead.

A 3-pointer by Lola Lundquist broke New Ulm’s run and cut their lead to 20-11.

The Eagles would go on a torrid shooting spree and make seven 3-pointers in the first half on their way to a 45-26 lead at the intermission.

The Bucs did their best to battle back but the Eagles increased their lead to as many as 25 points midway through the second half before the Maroon and Gold scored 10 consecutive points to narrow their deficit to 15 points with New Ulm on top 62-47.

It would be as close as the Bucs would come and New Ulm went home with the victory.

The Bucs’ overall record stood at 2-4 after the game.