Girls basketball roundup: Ashby owns Rothsay — again

Jon Weisbrod and Josh Julius

Published 04:24 p.m., December 19, 2009

ASHBY — The Ashby girls basketball team won its 13th straight game against Little Eight Conference rival Rothsay 69-44 in the season home opener for the Arrows Friday night.

The Arrows were once again led by the exciting play of senior forward Amanda Johnson, who netted a game high 24 points and collected 15 rebounds and three steals.

Arrows’ coach John Kent finally began to see his other players outside of Johnson step up and become serious scoring threats, something he has been excepting sooner rather than later.

Haley Ness and Kelly Faulk each had 11 points, Kent calling it Faulk’s most complete game of the early season.

Junior forward Gina Mickelson provided a spark of the bench for the Arrows, knocking down two crucial three pointers.

“I was extremely pleased with the overall team effort tonight,” Kent said following the game via e-mail. “We did a good job of taking care of the ball and hitting our open shots.”

The Arrows were 43 percent from the field.

Statistics were not made available by the Rothsay coaching staff following the game.

The Arrows (3-1) will play host to an impressive nonconference opponent in West Central Area on Tuesday while Rothsay (1-4) travels to Barnesville on the same day.

West Central 56, Barnesville 45

BARNESVILLE — Liz Torgerson splashed in 24 points to lead the red-hot Knights to a Heart O’ Lakes Conference victory.

Alyssa Blair chipped in eight points and 11 rebounds for West Central, which won its fourth straight.

Torgerson scored 18 points in the second half, as the Knights led 20-16 at the break and polished the victory with a 36-29 second half advantage.

West Central (5-2, 4-2 HOL) out-rebounded Barnesville 37-31 while forcing the Trojans into a frigid 31 percent from the field.

“I think our defense did the job us tonight,” WCA coach Pat Anderson said. “Liz carried us offensively in the second half. Whenever we needed a big shot, she was there.”

No. 4 Parkers Prairie 62, Underwood 24

PARKERS PRAIRIE — The Panthers handed the Rockets a humbling first loss Friday night in a match-up of the top two teams in the Little Eight Conference.

Minnesota commit Sari Noga single-handily out scored Underwood with a game-high 33 points.

Rockets’ senior forward and top scoring threat Aann Bjorklund was held to just four points.

The Panthers (3-0) will host Browerville on Monday in a non conference game while the Rockets (4-1) will take on LEC rival Brandon-Evansville in Underwood on Tuesday.

Hawley 56, Perham 52

PERHAM — Katrina and Alisa Moenkedick each scored 12 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Yellowjackets dropped a Heart O’ Lakes Conference game at home.

Perham — which trailed 32-26 at the break — finished 23-for-62 from the field and 2-for-7 from beyond the 3-point line.

The loss snaps a five-game winning streak to start the season for the Yellowjackets (5-1 overall, 5-1 HOL).

Hawley remains unbeaten at 6-0. Jesse Noreen led the Nuggets with a game-high 17 points.

Brandon-Evansville 55, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 49

GRACEVILLE — Despite a poor shooting performance, the Chargers picked up a nonconference win over the Wolverines Friday night.

Down by five late in the first half, the Chargers went on an 8-0 run to recapture the lead and propel them to a 30-27 halftime advantage.

Sisters Heather and Megan Strese once again led the Chargers on offense, combining for 32 points and 27 rebounds. Michelle Bruns added 10 points.

“We had some defensive lapses throughout the game that helped them (CGB) stay in it,” Chargers’ coach Dick Simpson said. “We had to correct those mistakes because we were allowing too many easy shots.”

The Chargers (5-1) dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Wolverines 38-26.

Brandon-Evansville hosts No. 6 ranked (1-A) Bertha-Hewitt Tuesday. The Chargers are 1-1 against ranked opponents this season.

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