Girls basketball: Blossoms use defense to get past Medford
Published 11:34 pm Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Blooming Prairie’s McKenna Hein protects the ball while being harassed against Medford in the second half Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The Blooming Prairie girls basketball team didn’t have it’s offense going, but it found just enough scoring and a lot of defense to hold off Medford 35-30 in BP Tuesday.
Blooming Prairie’s Kayln Naatz goes up for a rebound against Medford in the second half Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Awesome Blossoms (12-5 overall, 5-3 Gopher) forced more turnovers (13) than it allowed in points (nine) in the first half, but Medford (2-11 overall, 2-4 Gopher) stormed back into the game in the second half. The Tigers pulled to within 25-24 with 7:11 left in the game, but BP put up a 6-0 run as it scored on its next three possessions. Hannah Ahrens, Kalyn Naatz and McKenna Hein all scored during the rally.
Hein, a sophomore who had six points and four steals, hit the dagger when she knocked down a jump shot to put BP up 33-26 with 1:48 left in the game.
“I want to score, but I don’t think of myself as an offensive player so much,” Hein said. “I think of myself as a defensive player. We have a very encouraging team and they encourage us to take the open shot.”
BP forced 21 Medford turnovers in the win and BP had 13 turnovers of its own. The Awesome Blossoms had 18 offensive rebounds and they allowed just eight offensive rebounds.
Naatz, who had six points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots, said the Blossoms are used to relying on their defense to carry them.
“We’ve had times before were we’ve had a lead and teams come back,” she said. “Defense is key for us in every game and we focus on that more. We just had an off night shooting tonight and nothing would drop.”
Blooming Prairie’s Kylie Forystek looks to shoot inside against Medford in the second half Tuesday night in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
BP junior Kylie Forystek had a career-high 11 points and eight rebounds to go with three blocked shots and Kaci Gwilt had two four points, four assist and three steals.
BP head coach John Bruns said depth and defense have been the keys for his team all season long.
“We really relied a lot on our defense tonight and that’s what won the game for us,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of different options out there on the floor and that is really valuable. A lot of girls can score.”
Medford 9 21 — 30
BP 19 16 — 35
BP scoring: Kylie Forystek, 11; McKenna Hein, 6; Kalyn Naatz, 6; Marissa Larson, 5; Hannah Ahrens, 4; Kaci Gwilt, 4; rebounds: 37 (Forystek, 8; Ahrens, 8); turnovers: 13; free throws: 38 percent (5-for-13)