×
×
homepage logo

Buccaneer girls declaw the Tigers 56-39

After losing to Pipestone Area by three points in BSC Showcase

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Feb 25, 2024

Madelyn Ferguson gets free to score against the Medford Tigers in the Bucs’ 56-39 win on Monday, Feb. 19.

Though wins have been hard to come by this season for the Blue Earth Area girls basketball team, they put together a fine performance in their last home game of the year and defeated the Medford Tigers 56-39 on Monday, Feb. 19,

It was a nice experience for the five seniors on the team, Kate Armon, Berkley Hagedorn, Leah Becker, Ashlyn Klinkner and Taylor Klabunde, to win the last game they would play on their home court.

The Bucs, who had defeated the Tigers 53-41 earlier in the season, fell behind 4-0 in the opening minutes of the contest before Erika Gaydon’s 3-pointer cut Medford’s lead to 4-3.

BEA was still trailing Medford 8-7 when Madelyn Ferguson passed the ball to Lola Lundquist for an open look from behind the 3-point line. Lundquist’s shot sailed through the hoop to give the Bucs their first lead of the game at 10-8 and BEA would never trail in the game again.

Lundquist converted a pass from Gaydon into a layup and Carol Schrader drained a shot from outside the arc to push BEA’s advantage to 15-8.

Medford closed the gap to 15-13 but 3-pointers by Gaydon and Lundquist extended BEA’s lead back to eight points at 21-13.

Once again the Tigers battled back and scored five consecutive points to make the score 21-18 with the Bucs still in control.

Ashlyn Klinkner’s drive and basket with 37 seconds showing on the game clock ended the scoring in the first half with BEA out in front 23-18.

The Bucs put together a 10-2 run to open the second half to boost their lead to 33-20 and the Tigers never were able to mount a serious threat for the remainder of the game. BEA outscored Medford 33-21 in the second half to make the final score 56-39.

BEA made 11 of their 28 (39 percent) 2-point attempts and nine of their 27 (33 percent) 3-point shots. They attempted 10 free throws and made seven (70 percent).

Medford was 10-for-31 (32 percent) on 2-pointers and 4-for-23 (17 percent) on 3-point attempts. They attempted 11 free throws and made seven (64 percent).

The Bucs had 40 rebounds to 39 for the Tigers. BEA committed 16 turnovers to 19 for Medford.

Lundquist led both teams in scoring with 26 points. Gaydon tallied nine points, Ferguson and Klinkner each had seven, Armon had four and Carol Schrader had three.

Medford was led by Olivia Ward with 10 points.

Gaydon led the Bucs with nine rebounds followed by Ferguson with seven.

Lundquist recorded five assists, Ferguson had four and Armon had three. Armon led the team with three steals.

Pipestone 51, BEA 48

Blue Earth Area’s Kate Armon and Lola Lundquist combined to score 40 points against Pipestone Area but it wasn’t enough and the Arrows held on to defeat the Bucs 51-48.

The game was played in Blue Earth on Saturday, Feb. 17, as part of the Big South Conference Showcase.

Pipestone led by six points, 26-20, at the end of the first half.

The Bucs tied the game at 36-36 with just over seven and a half minutes remaining in the game, but the Arrows scored the next five points to go on top 41-36.

With 28 seconds to play in the game, Kate Armon’s basket brought BEA within one point of Pipestone Area with the Arrows ahead 47-46. However, Pipestone Area was able to drain four free throws to offset a basket by BEA’s Madelyn Ferguson and the Arrows went home with the 51-48 victory.

Armon led the Bucs with 24 points and Lundquist finished with 16.

Armon and Ferguson were the leading rebounders for the Bucs with seven each.

Five different BEA players each had two assists. They were Armon, Carol Schrader, Lundquist, Erika Gaydon and Ashlyn Klinkner.