Panthers rally past Awesome Blossoms in second half
Published 10:01 pm Tuesday, January 17, 2017
- Blooming Prairie’s Ayren Ingvalson drives through the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva defense during the first half Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Blooming Prairie girls basketball team kept up with the top team in the Gopher Conference for awhile, but it wasn’t able to keep up that intensity as it lost 81-59 in BP Tuesday.
The Awesome Blossoms (6-7 overall, 2-3 Gopher) hung right with the Panthers (10-5 overall, 6-0 Gopher) for the first 18 minutes of the game, but NRHEG opened the second half on a 15-0 run over a three-minute stretch to take a lead it would not relinquish.
Blooming Prairie’s Julia Worke swings the ball during the first half against NRHEG Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“They have so many weapons and they got rolling in that first four minutes of the second half. We just didn’t have an answer right away,” BP head coach John Bruns said. “That was kind of frustrating because we played really well in the first half. We had controlled tempo and handled their pressure. We just didn’t come out and do what we were capable of doing.”
The Panthers did most of their second half damage inside as they were able to penetrate and get to the rim at will. When NRHEG didn’t finish at the rim, it was able to get to the offensive glass and do some damage.
“They were living in our lane and we can’t have that,” Bruns said.
Blooming Prairie’s McKenna Hein pulls up off the dribble during the first half against NRHEG Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
BP led 17-16 early early in the game when Kylie Forystek, who had 10 points, six assists and four steals, hit a jump shot and it was a back and forth contest for the rest of the first frame. Marissa Larson, who had 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks, also had a big impact for BP in the first half.
“Kylie was knocking down shots early and Lars was able to get to the free throw line. They did some good things in the first half,” Bruns said. “We know we can do it, it’s just a matter of finding that consistency and rhythm to stay in there for 32 minutes instead of just 18 minutes.”
Sam Wurst had seven points and 10 rebounds in the loss for BP.
Blooming Prairie’s Kylie Forystek looks to the basket as she drives during the first half against New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
BP 29 30 — 59
NRHEG 32 49 — 81
BP scoring: Marissa Larson, 15; Kylie Forystek, 10; McKenna Hein, 9; Sam Wurst, 7; Julia Worke, 5; Maggie Bruns, 3; Jasmine Anderson, 3; Marti Snider, 3; Aryen Ingvalson, 2; Megan Oswald, 1; free throws: 61 percent (20-for-33); rebounds: 36 (Wurst, 10); turnovers: 20
Blooming Prairie’s Marissa Larson shoots past NRHEG’s Marnie Wagner during the first half Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com