MANKATO WEST 61, MANKATO EAST 58
It was West (barely) over East in the battle of Mankato on Thursday night. The #11 Scarlets saw a seven point lead (59-52) with 1:21 left in the game evaporate to one (59-58) with 25.7 seconds left. This was only one facet of the game. Also a 1000 point milestone was reached by East sophomore Lexi Karge. A thirty year milestone was also being celebrated by West’s assistant coach Dianne Johns. But back to the action on the court. Not only was this the battle between two city rivals that obviously know each other very well, it also has implications for the seeding in section 2AAA, the most competitive section in AAA, if not in any class. The #8 seed is the overall #41 ranked team (according to QRF). Seven of the teams are in the top 30. The best AAA section after that has five. West is fighting for the second seed. Marshall, being undefeated at this point, is more than likely the #1 seed in 2AAA. East might be in the #6-#7 window. In fact, this game may have been a section quarterfinal preview. In the first meeting this year West had a 20 point win at East. There has been improvement in the Cougars game since then.
West had the upper hand early scoring on their first possession after four cracks at it. After a Holly Wiste 3 made it 17-10 East started their surge. They scored the next seven points capped by Karge’s shot from the left block. This led to the first West time out at 7:48 to refocus. There was either a two point differential or tie the rest of the half. East did inch in front 22-20 on another Karge bucket. Claire Hemstock put the Scarlets up with her own post action on the left block 24-23. East started with the ball in the second half and that is when Karge made her milestone basket. The 6-2 sophomore had 20 points on the evening. The leading Cougar happened to be another soph, Mackenzie Schweim with 25. The East roster only has one senior. The two sophs mentioned have been starting since they were eighth graders. West scored three straight possessions with two Hemstock post scores sandwiching a Wiste triple (31-27). Another three straight possession score for West made it 39-31. Briana Stoltzman delivered the second straight 3 to cap that mini-run. Emily Fitterer’s 3 made it 42-34 and the West lead looked safe. It wasn’t. It was East’s turn to light it up from behind the arc with Schweim scoring all eight with a pair of 3s sandwiching a shot from the right block. There was plenty of time left in the game—ten minutes. The momentum arrow went back to West with five scores in six possessions (52-46). With 3:33 left West stretched the lead back to five. They went to a delay offense but turned it over two straight times. Hemstock gave them a seven point cushion after a put back. With less than 1:30 left it appeared to be a West lock for victory. Then the wheels came off, but East didn’t fully exploit the advantage. East’s Isabelle Schott was fouled (and they were in the bonus). She missed both attempts. Karge got the offensive board and was fouled. Teresa Kiewiet picked up her fourth foul on that play and made a comment that the officials did appreciate. Technical. Four free throw attempts later East had cut the deficit by two. They still had possession and Karge delivered both free throws. That inched East closer 59-56. There was 57.8 left in the game. Peyton Stevermer got a steal and lay up to put the crowd in jubilation (East) or cardiac arrest (West). 25.7 remained. West called time and Stoltzman was fouled with 15.4 left. She knocked down both free throws for the final margin. East turned it over. West turned it over. East’s last ditch 3 was blocked by Stoltzman. The Scarlets hearts were beating easier.
East can look at their free throw production and wonder what might have been. They had twice as many attempts—-a dozen—but only made four more, leaving 11 points on the table. East also had trouble with turnovers, doubling up West 26-13. Neither team can crow about the bench. West “beat” East 4-0 in that department. The West starters had four players with 100+ pp100. East only had one. The West starters won the pp100 race 109.6 to 90.6. The problem with the Scarlets was they got involved in foul problems.
West is 19-7 on the year. East is 12-14.
| MANKATO WEST | MANKATO EAST | |
| POINTS | 61 | 58 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 29/16 | 36/18 |
| TURNOVERS | 13 | 26 |
| 2FGA/% | 42/40.47 | 30/50.00 |
| 3FGA/% | 18/33.33 | 15/33.33 |
| FTA/% | 12/75.00 | 24/54.16 |
| PP100 | 93.8 | 87.9 |
| TOP SCORER | Briana Stoltzman 18 | Mackenzie Schweim 25 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Briana Stoltzman with 18 points, 112.5 pp100 and one off the 31 Club with 30. Money free throws. Money block at the end.