The visiting Pequot Lakes Patriots rallied for a 52-51 Mid-State Conference girls' basketball win over the Crosby-Ironton Rangers on Friday, Jan. 9.
The Patriots trailed by as much as eight points early in the second half before rallying to improve to 2-0 in the conference and 8-3 overall. The Rangers dropped to 2-2 and 4-5.
"We didn't play well in the first half, but we came back with a 10-0 run midway through the second half," said Pequot Lakes coach Jon Dale. "The run was sparked by six points from Corina Ruud."
The first half was tied numerous times, but the Patriots weren't able to build a lead. C-I stretched the lead to 31-23 early in the second half before Pequot Lakes rallied for a 33-31 advantage.
The Rangers eventually led 45-39 with just over five minutes remaining. Brittny Bzdok sparked a rally with five points to give the visitors a 46-45 lead with 3:25 left.
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C-I assumed its final lead at 47-46 on a pair of free throws with 1:50 remaining. Bzdok made all three free throws and then Littman added a rebound basket to make it 51-47 with 46 seconds to go. The Rangers climbed back into the game but a free throw by Bzdok with 5.3 seconds left clinched the win.
"It was an ugly win, but it was a win," Dale said. "We had balanced scoring, with girls like (Olivia) Lane, Ruud, (Laura) Squires and Littman getting some big baskets for us."
Littman led the visitors with 10 points while Jami Nelson had 21 for the Rangers and Cyan Hale 18.
Pequot Lakes was scheduled to face Wadena-Deer Creek on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and then host Pillager at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.
The Patriots' junior varsity team defeated C-I 53-28 after leading 24-18 at the half. Pequot Lakes opened a big lead with a 21-0 run early in the second half. Maggie Miska led the Patriots with 13 points, Olivia Lane added 10, and Kristin Skog and Elsa Headlee each with eight.
Pequot Lakes 22 30 - 52
Crosby-Ironton 27 24 - 51
PEQUOT LAKES
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Caitie Ryan 8, Haley Wiebolt 8, Brittny Bzdok 9, Kelsey Hart 4, Olivia Lane 2, Emilee Buell 1, Corina Ruud 8, Laura Squires 2, Sam Littman 10. FG 24-51 (47 percent), FT 9-17 (53 percent). 3-point 1-5 (20 percent).
CROSBY-IRONTON
Cyan Hale 18, Lauren Peterson 3, Jami Nelson 21, Abby Gindorff 9. FG 19-52 (37 percent), FT 10-22 (45 percent). 3-point 3-8 (37 percent).
