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Panthers defeat Lady Lakers, 36-34

By Staff | Feb 3, 2017

Rugby's Breanna Thompson gets double-teamed by Des Lacs-Burlington defenders Monday in Rugby. The Panthers defeated the Lakers, 36-34. (Lori Gronvold)

The Rugby Panthers girls basketball team beat the Des Lacs-Burlington Lady Lakers 36-34 this past Tuesday night.

The game started in Rugby’s favor, with sophomore forward Karsyn Hager scoring a three-pointer to lock-in the Panthers’ lead to victory. The Lakers fought hard in the first quarter, matching Rugby’s defensive skills. Both teams had multiple turnovers throughout the game. By the end of the first period, however, Rugby had the lead 8-7.

In the second quarter, DLB trailed Rugby, only scoring six points towards the team’s total. Rugby scored 10 points in the second period, with shots made by senior center Breanna Thompson, junior forward Tristin Lunde, junior forward Whitney Gronvold, and Hager, who successfully sank a two-pointer, as well as two foul shots. The first half of the game ended with Rugby in the lead 18-13.

By the third quarter, both teams were hungry for a win. DLB’s junior guard Caitlyn Vogel scored a three-pointer for her team, as did senior guard Kayla Schaefer. Rugby didn’t go down without a fight, though. Sophomore guard Anni Stier countered DLB’s three-pointers with two of her own, as well as another basket, contributing a total of eight points in the third period. Team members Lunde and Thompson also scored to bring Rugby’s lead up to 31-22.

The fourth quarter saw an exciting return and a glimmer of hope for the win for DLB, with a total of twelve points scored. Rugby’s players, however, kept their eyes on the target. Lunde and Stier, along with sophomore guard Maria Blessum scored a total of five points in the final quarter. In the last second of the game, Stier was fouled by DLB sophomore forward Kyley Lauf. Stier missed her foul shot, but the buzzer rang to declare the Rugby Panthers the victors, with a final score of 36-34.

Stier ended the game with a total of 12 points, Lunde with 8, Hager with 7, Thompson with 6, Gronvold with 2, and Blessum with 1.