Southland girls knocked off by Goodhue
Published 12:36 am Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Southland’s McKenzie Kirtz gets free for a break-away layup against Goodhue in the Section 1A West semifinals in Mayo Civic Auditorium Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — The No. 4 seeded Southland girls basketball team looked like it was ready to make a run at top-seeded Goodhue when things took a turn for the worse in the Section 1A West semifinals in Mayo Civic Auditorium Monday.
The Wildcats (23-5 overall), who are ranked No. 1 in Class A, finished the game in dominant fashion as they outscored Southland 44-18 after the Rebels had pulled to within nine points early in the second half.
Southland’s Katlin Webber shoots over Goodhue’s Michelle Hadler in Mayo Civic Auditorium Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Southland trailed by as many as 20 in the first half, but it closed the frame on an 8-0 run and it scored four of the first five points in the second half.
“We know we can play with them,” Southland head coach Bob Sheehan said. “There were times when were a little lazy with the basketball. We need to be stronger with the basketball.”
Southland had 34 turnovers in the loss and it forced 20 turnovers from Goodhue.
McKenzie Kirtz had 16 points and six rebounds for the Rebels, who will graduate just one senior.
“It was a learning experience for us,” Sheehan said. “We have almost everybody coming back.”
Southland 17 22 — 39
Goodhue 29 45 — 74
Southland scoring: McKenzie Kirtz, 16; Kaitlyn Kirtz, 6; Corbyn Bendtsen, 5; Sydney Bendtsen, 4; Morgan Schmitz, 4; McKendry Kennedy, 2; Katlin Webber, 2; free throws: 48 percent (13-for-27); rebounds: 37 (Olivia Gray, 6; McKenzie Kirtz, 6); turnovers: 34
