Paige Steele, 8 points, 12 rebounds and 4 straight free throws in final 55 seconds
(photos by Jim Lindquist)
Undefeated Farmington celebrated its ninth place ranking in the most recent Associated Press state Class 4A poll with a hard-earned 61-57 win over Red Wing, Tuesday night, Jan. 6, at Tiger Gym. The game was the Missota Conference opener for both schools.
The victory was the 10th straight for the Tigers. The Wingers (9-2) came into the contest ranked third among Class 3A state teams.
"We didn't spend a lot of time talking about who was ranked where," Tiger coach Jason Berg said. "We just told the girls it would be two good teams gong after each other and that's about how it turned out."
The game was a see-saw affair through much of the first half with the lead changing hands eight times before the Tigers put together a 10-2 run late in the period to take a 28-23 lead to the halftime break.
Taylor Meyer who finished with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds scored a dozen in the first half, including a pair of three-point plays.
Farmington led by as many as seven points early in the second half, but the Wingers dialed up their defensive pressure and forced a flurry of turnovers that got them back in the game.
"We turned the ball over way too much (22 times)," Berg said, "but when we did take our time and stayed patient, we got the shots we wanted."
The visitors rallied and took the lead at 46-45 on a three-pointer by Andrea LaFond before Farmington countered with a 12-2 spurt to build a 57-48 cushion. Shelby Calhoun canned a pair of three-pointers to lead the rally.
Isis Alexander (left), 11 points, 6 rebounds
Shelby Calhoun, 2 three-pointers in winning rally
But the game was far from over. Red Wing pulled to within 57-54 with 1:30 to play and then sent the Tigers to the foul line. Paige Steele iced the victory with four straight from the line over the final 55 seconds.
"We didn't defend like we should have and like we've been defending all year," Berg said, "and that was a little disappointing. We gave them too many open looks...But we played hard and I think our nine-player rotation wore them down a bit at the end."
Heroes abounded for the home team. There was Meyer and her 20 points; Calhoun and her clutch three's; Steele's team-high 12 rebounds and pressure-packed free throws; Isis Alexander's and her 11 points and energy off the bench and the rebounding work of Jordan Bridges (9) and Elena Koch (8).
"These girls don't care who does what," Berg said. "They just want to do what they can to make the team successful."
Balanced scoring was also a key for the winners. Calhoun and Steele each finished with eight points and Koch chipped in with seven to go with the 31 provided by Meyer and Alexander.
The Tigers resume Missota Conference play Tuesday, Jan. 11, when they travel to Chanhassen to take on the Storm.
"Tonight was just the start," Berg said. "There are some very good teams in this conference. It's going to be like this every night."
