ROCHESTER CENTURY 56, OWATONNA 54
There was a 180 degree spin on this game—-twice. Host Rochester Century overcame an 11 point half time deficit to edge out Owatonna 56-54 on Thursday in a Big 9 Conference match up. That was one 180. The other 180 (does that make it a 360?) was the flip of the first meeting between these two teams won by the Huskies on their home court 70-39. At the break Owatonna led 36-25 with a pp100 at 102.9. That pp100 would nosedive to 48.6 in the second half. Shooting was the prime culprit with an 18.51 % mark (5/27).
Early in the game it was back and forth. Century led 21-20 after scoring four straight points. There were six minutes still left in the first half. Owatonna closed with a 16-4 flourish. Two Century time outs did not slow the momentum. Sarah Kingland had six of her team high 14 points during that stretch. Teammate Holly Buytaert had seven of her 13 also during the push.
Century’s batteries were recharged at half time. Starting off with the first possession Lydia Niederstadt scored six of the eleven Century points, making it a game once again trailing 40-36. Four minutes had elapsed. That centurion halftime pp100 mark by Owatonna was soon a distant memory. When Jordyn Sutton scored in transition off of a missed Husky shot, Owatonna called time up 40-38 with slightly less that 13 minutes remaining. Century tied it at 40. The Huskies moved back in front 46-42. At the 5:50 mark a Maggie Newhouse 3 gave Owatonna a five point lead (52-47). A corner 3 from Addison Clarey, the daughter of RC coach Chadd Clarey, knotted the game at 52. Three minutes remained. The last four points would all come at the line for RC. Mya Benike drained two with 2:37 left. On the next possession Kjerstin Ritz made her second chance. Addison Clarey finished off the scoring with a one more at 1:18. But five missed free throws down the home stretch were not converted. Buytaert scored on a drive with 30 seconds left for Owatonna’s last points. They too missed opportunities down the stretch.
With the win Century snapped a four game losing streak. The Panthers are now 5-11 on the year. Owatonna falls to 4-11 and has lost their last two contests. Both teams are tied for ninth place in the twelve team Big 9 Conference.
These programs are closely competitive—-down to the JV. That contest, won by Owatonna, went to overtime.
Are seniors an endangered species? Are missing seniors on milk cartons? Each team had one senior rostered. Only Owatonna’s Sara Anderson saw action. Seven of the ten starters were sophomores. Two eighth graders saw action for Century.
With these two off the table I have now charted 82.3% of the AAAA teams. Eleven teams remain.
| ROCHESTER CENTURY | OWATONNA | |
| POINTS | 56 | 54 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 44/12 | 43/18 |
| TURNOVERS | 20 | 18 |
| 2FGA/% | 45/46.67 | 45/28.89 |
| 3FGA/% | 12/16.67 | 16/37.50 |
| FTA/% | 15/53.33 | 22/45.45 |
| PP100 | 77.8 | 75.0 |
| TOP SCORER | Jordyn Sutton 24 | Sarah Kingland 14 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Jordyn Sutton with 24 points, 120.0 pp100, and a 40 score in the 31 Club. Sutton had 14 D stops. Sutton had 14 points in the second half.