Blooming Prairie girls basketball team knocked off by FBA
Published 11:38 pm Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Blooming Prairie’s Taylor Hagen goes around Bethlehem Academy’s Lauren Mathews in the first half Tuesday night during the Section 1A West Division semifinals in Rochester. — Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROCHESTER — The Blooming Prairie girls basketball team mustered a second half surge, but it couldn’t overcome a big deficit in a 54-32 loss to No. 1 seeded Faribault Bethlehem Academy (23-4 overall) in the Section 1A West Division semifinals in Mayo Civic Auditorium Tuesday.
The Cardinals opened the game on an 18-4 run, but the Awesome Blossoms (17-10 overall) pulled to within seven early in the second half.
Blooming Prairie’s Jenna Krell gets a put-back during the second half of the Awesome Blossoms’ Section 1A West Division semifinal game Tuesday night in Rochester.
“I think they just got a little shell shocked early,” BP head coach John Worke said. “They were doing things I haven’t seen them do all year. By the time they realized that it was just another game it wasn’t too late, but each possession was crucial.”
BP opened the second half on a 13-1 run as Sara Noble hit a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws during the rally. But as soon as Taylor Hagen scored to make it a 32-25 game with eight minutes left, FBA’s Taryn Ashley hit a 3-pointer to trigger a 9-0 Cardinal run that put BP away.
“It got to be a fatigue factor,” Worke said. “You battle so hard to get within seven and then they hit a three and break your heart. They’re relentless.”
BP’s defense held FBA’s top scorer Jessie Matthews in check and it forced 16 FBA turnovers, but it wasn’t enough.
“Everybody talks about Jessie and I know Jessie makes a lot happen,” Worke said. “But they have a lot of nice players that can do a lot of nice things for them.”
BP sophomore Taylor Hagen finished with 13 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots for BP.
Blooming Prairie guard Madison Worke dribbles around Bethlehem Academy’s Hana Palmer during the second half Tuesday in the Section 1A West Division semifinals in Rochester.
BA 31 23 — 54
BP 12 20 — 32
BP scoring: Taylor Hagen, 13; Sarah Noble, 10; Madison Worke, 6; Janelle Morem, 3; field goals: 24 percent (12-for-50); 15 percent (3-for-20); free throws: 55 percent (5-for-9); rebounds: 22 (Hagen, 6); turnovers: 17