The nightcap at Anoka High School on this Friday night was the much anticipated clash between Northwest Suburban neighbors and bitter rivals Maple Grove and Osseo. The two teams had split their two regular season conference battles; each team winning on the other's court. So this would indeed would be one you would not want to miss. Especially intriguing on this evening was that Brianna Olson, the point guard for the '07 and '08 Osseo teams that made it to state (the '08 section title coming at this same venue vs Centennial) was in attendance to cheer on her high school and especially younger sister Paige who was holding down the same point guard spot that big 'sis held just a few years ago.
Osseo would control the early going in this one although it never could build up a sizable lead. Although Oriole sophomore sensation Phillis Webb would put on a dazzling display early on, Maple Grove kept it close; not because of expected senior leaders like Anna Gerdes, Ellen Edison, and Stephanie Davison but rather in the unexpected form of unheralded senior Stephanie Pappas who nailed a "3" at the 13:52 mark that brought the Crimson to within one of the Orioles. Gerdes did give Maple Grove its first lead of 9-8 and Davison expanded that lead to 11-8 with her jumper off the glass at the 11:42 mark. Osseo would eventually get even and again grab a small lead coming down the stretch. But Pappas again stuck a dagger into the Orioles when she drained another "3" at the 2:05 mark that cut the Osseo lead down to 23-22. The intensity of this game was quite apparent as both teams were really bringing it and it was no surprise at all that both teams went into the locker room at the half tied at 25.
But while Maple Grove was able to convert from behind the arc on this night, Osseo struggled somewhat in the first half and those struggles with perimeter shooting only got worse as the second half got underway. The Crimson were able to build a 32-27 lead by the 14:05 mark and expanded that lead to as many as seven points when sophomore Madison Ordner sunk two freebies at the charity stripe at the 10:18 mark. Then Davison swished a "3" at the 9:02 mark that ballooned Maple Grove's lead to 42-33 and Osseo was in some trouble. But the Orioles regrouped and went on a 7-0 run and got to within two points of Maple Grove by the 7:18 mark. Here, perhaps, was the key moment of the game as the Orioles LOOKED like they were about to take control again and perhaps Maple Grove might wilt under the pressure. But this experienced Maple Grove group led by the trio of seniors it has simply refused to let that happen. And Pappas and Ordner were the unlikely heroines on this night for the Crimson as they were able to stay the course and get just enough cushion coming down the stretch that put them in control. Osseo junior sensation Mikayla Bailey had a difficult time getting untracked from a scoring standpoint on this night and, to compound matters, Webb fouled out when the Orioles needed her magic the most. Although Oriole senior Kayla Westling nailed a "3" with just :39 remaining on the clock, Osseo was still down two possessions and had no choice but to foul in order to get the ball back. Maple Grove converted those chances at the free throw line and the Crimson took the final prize in the Section 5 group; winning 63-55 and ending a fabulous Osseo season.
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