The first game on Thursday featured a much-anticipated clash between #1 seed Richfield and #5 seed Red Wing which made its way up the Mississippi River and the Canadian Pacific Railway's River Sub mainline to take in the festivities at the Minnesota State Girls Basketball Tournament. For me, this game was incredibly intriguing as each side had a bona fide star leading the way - Jessica January of Richfield and Tesha Buck of Red Wing - and you knew that each would play an integral role in the outcome of this game.
Richfield's January has made a concerted effort this season to be a more "complete" player; i.e., get her teammates more involved from a scoring standpoint. In the early going in this one, though, she played a prominent role in the Spartans crusade as they forged to an 11-5 lead. The purple-clad Wingers, though, battled right back as they closed the gap to 13-10 by the 11:03 mark; highlighted by a "3" from senior McKenna Schaffer from the right wing. Then it was Buck's turn to shine as she connected on a lay-up in transition at the 10:04 mark that got her fouled and allowed her to sink the obligatory freebie to tie the issue at 13 a piece. The Wingers looked like they were in the groove but with 8:57 left those hopes and dreams might have been dashed when Buck was on the wrong end of a collision on a Richfield fast break opportunity where a Richfield opponent inadvertently landed on her ankle. Buck was able to eventually get up under her own power but with her out of the action it gave Richfield a window of opportunity that they ordinarily would not have had. Fortunately for Red Wing, Buck's injury was not that serious and she was back in with 7:20 left - just in time to help the Wingers halt the start of what could have been a major Richfield run. Things would stay tight until the 3:28 mark when January inexplicably picked up her third foul. This allowed the Wingers to go on a run that would allow them to take a 35-28 lead into the locker room at halftime as Richfield Head Coach Scott Stadem had no choice but to sit his star player. January did tally 12 points before that fulcrum 3:28 mark to pace the Spartans while Buck led the way for Red Wing with her 15 points. Rebounds and turnovers were even steven but Red Wing had the advantage where it counts - on the scoreboard.
Both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket in the first couple of minutes of the second half but Richfield seemed to have that sense of urgency soon thereafter as they embarked on a 12-5 run by the 11:40 mark; spearheaded by January and fellow senior Hailey Lindblom that tied things up at 40-all. Red Wing would then hold a slight advantage but the Wingers had cause for concern when Buck suddenly found herself saddled with 4 fouls by the 7:53 mark that forced Red Wing Head Coach Dave Muelken to sit her for a spell. Buck re-entered the game right around the 5:00 mark for the critical home run stretch as Red Wing was trying to protect a slender advantage. With 4:45 left, Richfield was in the double-bonus as the fouls were beginning to pile up on the Wingers. Things were wild and wooly in the last few minutes - missed opportunities by both teams along with numerous controversial fouls and turnovers that had both student sections rocking. Lindblom went down with 2:06 left after an inadvertent collision but was able to get up under her own power.
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