The Staples Motley Cardinal girls team split two basketball games this past week, defeating Wadena- Deer Creek 40-36 on Friday night, but then losing Saturday afternoon to a tough Bemi- dji High School team 62- 41.

“The Wadena game was a defensive game with both teams only shooting around 28

percent from the field,”

Coach Arden Beachy said. “We did a good job holding

their top two scoring individuals to single digit

scoring. Both Courtney Volkmann and Avery Jackson

had nine points. Kelsi Crawford had 10 points.

“Both teams know each other well and it was a tough physical battle. Abby Smith had two quick baskets at the four minute mark in the game which broke a tie and we were able to hold on and win.”

Caitlyn Robinson scored 16 points, Nikki Pearson with 8, Ashley Lisson and Abby Smith with 4. Both teams had 21 turnovers. W-DC out rebounded the Cards 34-25. The Wolverines were 11/12 from the free throw line and the Cards were 12/19.

Not so fast Cardinal Bobbi Jo Mathe (55) goes up to score two points in Saturday The Bemidji game the next day saw the final score at 62-41 for the Lumberjacks. The game was close until about five minutes left in the first half when the score was 16-14 for Bemidji. The Lumberjacks, unbeaten and seventh ranked in Class 3A, then went on a 17- 0 run to end the first half.

“I thought we played Kayla Hirt as well as we could. She is their 6-2 junior who has already committed to the University of Minnesota and is averaging 29 points per game,” Beachy said.

“We held her to 21 points, however we could not keep her and the rest of the Bemidji team off the boards, especially the offensive boards.” The Bemidji girls out rebounded SM 43-21 and had 23 offensive boards. Hirt had 14 and their other six foot player had eight.

Heavy traffic Cardinal Nikki Pearson (0) put the ball in the basket despite being defended by Kayla Hirt (20). Cardinal Jennifer Vasquez (15) and Lumberjack Jess Yost (21) watch. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan) “We know we are at a disadvantage height wise, but we have to do a better job boxing out before the other team gets better position,” Beachy said.

“We kept pace with them in the second half with both teams scoring 28 points, but it was their run before half and their second chance points that made the big difference in the game.”

For the Cards, Caitlin Robinson hit five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points. “I thought Caitlin’s four 3-pointers in the second half kept us close enough so that they had to continue to play hard the rest of the game, “ Beachy said.

Nikki Pearson added 10, Lisson 6, Mathe with 4 and Smith with 2 points. The split in two games last week left the Lady Cardinals with a 4-2 record so far.

Earlier in the week, Nikki Pearson with 14 points and Bobbie Jo Mathe with 11 led the Cards to a 55-25 victory Monday, Dec. 14, over Frazee.

Gunnin’ for two Cardinal Gunner Johnson was hoping for a shot as he brought the ball down court in the game against Wadena- Deer Creek Dec. 15. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford) Basketball results

Dec. 19 Bemidji 33 28 - 61

Staples Motley 14 27 - 41

Bemidji (61): Kelsey Heisler 11; Kayla Hirt 21; Abby Hendricks 2; Erika Weimann 5; Megan Huseby 9; Caitlin Gangelhoff 5; Jess Yost 6; Maren Erpelding 2; Jenna Sagedahl 1. FG 24, FT 10-14. 3-point baskets: Huseby 3, Weimann 1.

Staples Motley (41): Nikki Pearson 10; Caitlin Robinson 19; Ashley Lisson 6; Bobbie Jo Mathe 4; Abby Smith 2. FG 17, FT 1-1. 3-point baskets: Robinson 5, Pearson 1.

Dec. 18 Staples Motley 20 20 - 40

Wadena-Deer Creek 21 15 - 36

Staples Motley (40): Nikki Pearson 8, Kelly Pearson 2, Caitlin Robinson 16, Jennifer Vasquez 1, Ashley Lisson 4, Abby Smith 4, Kelsey Rice 2, Bobbie Jo Mathe 3. 3-point baskets: 2 (Robinson 2).

Wadena-Deer Creek (36): Caitlin Volkmann 2, Hannah Toedter 2, Courtney Volkmann 9, Avery Jackson 9, Kelsi Crawford 10, Rachel Craig 4, 3-point baskets: 1 (Jackson).

Frazee 16 9 - 25

StaplesMotley 24 31 - 55

Frazee ( 25): Kristi Smith 4, Alexis Tappe 2, McKinzie Tangen 11, Jaclyn Mickelson 2, Sadie Stender 1, Chloe Streeper 2, Ashley Bachmann 3. FG 8-26 (31 percent), FT 6-17 (35 percent), 3-point baskets: 3-7 (Bachmann, Tangen, Smith).

Staples Motley (55): Nikki Pearson 14, Kelly Pearson 2, Caitlin Robinson 3, Jennifer Vasquez 8, Ashley Lisson 7, Abby Smith 8, Jasmine McGillvray 2, Bobbie Jo Mathe 11. FG 22-50 (44 percent), FT 9-15 (60 percent), 3-point baskets: 2 (N. Pearson, Robinson).