Girls Basketball: Top-seeded Patriots return to section final with win
The Pequot Lakes Patriots battled the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers in the Section 7-2A Semifinals.
The Pequot Lakes girls' basketball celebrates a basket against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
DULUTH — Pequot Lakes is not a tall team, but Wednesday, March 8, they were giants in the paint.
The top-seeded Patriots used second- and sometime third-chance opportunities to build a nine-point halftime lead and turn it into a 64-49 victory over No. 4-seeded Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers in the Section 7-2A Semifinals at Romano Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
After snaring the lead at 14:28, the Patriots used an early 11-0 run to create a 16-5 advantage. Maci Martini drained two of her three first-half 3-pointers during the run. Isabel Larson added four points during the run, but it was six second-chance opportunities that created the early advantage.
“Rebounding was big,” Pequot head coach Brian Lempola said. “Cleaning up and having them being one and down was good defensively. Then we hit shots early and that always energizes our team.”
1/57: Pequot Lakes girls basketball against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
2/57: Pequot Lakes' Ella Kratochvil goes up for a shot against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
3/57: Pequot Lakes head coach Brian Lempola, left, shouts adjustments to his Patriots team against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
4/57: Pequot Lakes' Isabel Larson goes for basket against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
5/57: The Pequot Lakes girls' basketball celebrates a basket against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
6/57: Pequot Lakes fans cheer on their Patriots girls basketball team Wednesday, March 8, 2023, during the Section 7-2A Semifinals at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
7/57: Pequot Lakes' head coach girls' basketball coach Brian Lempola talks to the team during a timeout Wednesday, March 8, 2023, during the Section 7-2A Semifinals against Duluth Marshall at the University of Minnesota, Duluth
8/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
9/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
10/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
11/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
12/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
13/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
14/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
15/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
16/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
17/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
18/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
19/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
20/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
21/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
22/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
23/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
24/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
25/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
26/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
27/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
28/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
29/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
30/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
31/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
32/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
33/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
34/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
35/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
36/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
37/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
38/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
39/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
40/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
41/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
42/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
43/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
44/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
45/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
46/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
47/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
48/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
49/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
50/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
51/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
52/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
53/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
54/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
55/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
56/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
57/57: Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball vs Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Duluth Marshall answered with a 9-0 run to cut Pequot’s lead to 20-8. Regan Juenemann tallied eight of her 20 points in the first half including one of the three 3-pointers the Hilltoppers used to get close. Seventh-grader Chloe Johnson and Ava Meierotto sank the other two long-distance shots.
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Pequot shot just 37% from the field in the first half, but its dominance on the boards had them attempting 30 field goals to Duluth’s 21. The Hilltoppers hit on just 33% from the field, but 36% from 3-point.
Maci Martini and Larson closed out the scoring for Pequot in the first half with a basket from Lauren Schultz to give the Patriots a 29-20 halftime lead.
“Turnovers. Unnecessary turnovers,” Hilltoppers head coach Chibuzo Osuchukwu said about his team's first-half troubles. “Our guards, we usually don’t turn the ball over that much. We usually average maybe 10 or 11 turnovers a game. Credit to Pequot. They had a game plan and they executed it and they won the game.
“Offensive rebounds they killed us. Anytime you can get second chance and third chance shots, with any good team, they’re going to make you pay.”
BURNSVILLE — The Central Lakes Thunder eighth grade girls basketball team took first place in the MYAS Gopher State Spring Series Tournament on Saturday, May 20, in Burnsville. They beat Wis City White, Sartell 8, and Grand Forks Swish to take home first place T-shirts. Players on this team are from Pequot Lakes and Pine River.
BURNSVILLE — The Central Lakes Thunder 11th grade girls basketball team took first place in the MYAS Gopher State Spring Series Tournament on Saturday May 20, in Burnsville. They beat the Wolverines, NSB Elite, and MDB HS to take home first place T-shirts. Players on this team are from Pequot Lakes, Brainerd, Little Falls, Pierz, and Staples.
Both Larson and Maci Martni finished with 11 points in the first half, but it was a Kelsi Martini 3-pointer in the second half that handed the Patriots their largest lead at 15 with 15:15 remaining in the game. Kelsi Martini was held to just two points in the first half. The career 1,000-point scorer finished with nine, but Larson scored a game-high 23 points and Maci Martini added 19 points.
“I think we pushed the ball pretty well up and down the floor,” Lempola said. “We missed a few. We left a few out there that’s for sure. Hopefully, we can clean those up and add them to the scoreboard Friday.”
A Chloe Johnson lay-in off a Pequot turnover put Duluth Marshall down 12 with about five minutes to play,
Pequot Lakes head coach Brian Lempola, left, shouts adjustments to his Patriots team against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
“I think we played a lot freer and a lot more like ourselves,” Osuchukwu said. “We’ve got young kids and this is a big atmosphere and it gets to their heads a little bit, but give credit to Pequot Lakes. It’s deja vu. When we first went to state and we had our upperclassmen they were just babies. Same thing now. They have the upperclassmen and they’ve been there before so credit to them.”
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That would be as close as the score would get. The Patriots hit 13-of-17 free throws down the stretch to improve to 25-3 and return to the section final. “When it gets to that point in the game, that’s our game,” Lempola said. “Free throws are a big part of the game and it’s a big part of our success. Those girls are so clutch late.”
Pequot Lakes' Isabel Larson goes for basket against Duluth Marshall in the Section 7-2A Semifinals on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
Duluth Marshall 20 24 -- 44
Pequot Lakes 29 33 -- 64
DULUTH MARSHALL
Ava Meierotto 3, Ada Skafte 10, Anna Saari 4, Mariah Lucero 5, Regan Juenemann 20. FG 18-52 (35%), FT 2-2 (100%). 3-point 12-32 (38%).
PEQUOT LAKES
Ella Kratochvil 6, Isabel Larson 23, Kelsi Martini 9, Maci Martini 19, Lauren Schultz 7. FG 22-50 (44%), FT 17-23 (74%). 3-point 4-17 (23%).
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.
Pequot Lakes 64, Duluth Marshall 49
Key: Second chance points and free throws down the stretch send Pequot to the section final
Overall: PL 25-3, DM 19-10
Next: Pequot Lakes vs. Crosby-Ironton in Section 7-2A Championship at Brainerd High School 6 p.m. Friday, March 10.
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