After defeating Pine River-Backus in the semifinals, the Nevis girls basketball team was denied the Fornshell Classic title with a loss to Pillager in the championship game.
Kayli Bessler’s double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds led the Tigers to a 41-33 win over Pine River-Backus on Dec. 20 while Pillager used runs of 11-0 and 22-3 in posting a 60-35 victory over Nevis in the title game on Dec. 21 in this four-team tournament at Pillager.
Tigers top PR-B
Nevis jumped out to an 18-7 lead to spark the win over PR-B and advance to the championship game.
A layup and a 3-pointer by Bessler, a jumper and a layup by Liddy DeWulf, a 3-pointer by Addison Lindow, and a layup by Mya Stacey provided an early lead as Nevis carried an 18-10 advantage into the half.
The Tigers maintained a comfortable lead after the break behind a jumper by Lindow, a jumper and a layup by Ava Isaacson, a jumper by Stacey, a 3-pointer by Bessler, a jumper by Marley Mitchell, a 3-pointer by Emily Funk, two baskets by Bessler, and a layup by Lindow.
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Isaacson and Lindow combined for 16 points with Isaacson hauling down 10 rebounds. Mitchell and Lindow grabbed nine rebounds each with Lindow tallying three steals and two assists as Nevis improved to 3-2 in Northwoods Conference games and 3-1 against Section 5A foes.
Ramsey Tulenchik’s 22 points and 11 rebounds led PR-B, which fell to 2-1 against conference opponents, 3-2 in section games and 4-4 overall.
NEVIS: Mitchell 1 0-0 2, Isaacson 2 4-6 8, Lindow 3 1-3 8, Stacey 2 0-0 4, Bessler 5 0-0 12, Funk 1 0-0 3, Carrier 0 0-0 0, DeWulf 2 0-0 4. Totals: 16 for 46 (FG), 5 for 9 (FT).
PINE RIVER-BACKUS: A. Dahl 1 0-0 3, Travis 1 0-0 2, Tulenchik 8 6-11 22, C. Dahl 2 0-2 6. Totals: 12 for 48 (FG), 6 for 13 (FT).
Halftime: Nevis 18, PR-B 10. Three-pointers: Lindow 1, Bessler 2, A. Dahl 1, C. Dahl 2. Team fouls: Nevis 16, PR-B 12. Fouled out: Isaacson. Rebounds: Nevis 42 (Bessler 12, Isaacson 10, Mitchell 9, Lindow 9, DeWulf 2). Assists: Nevis 6 (Lindow 2, Isaacson 1, Stacey 1, Bessler 1, DeWulf 1). Steals: Nevis 8 (Lindow 3, Mitchell 1, Isaacson 1, Stacey 1, Bessler 1, DeWulf 1). Blocked shots: Nevis 4 (Stacey 2, Isaacson 1, Bessler 1). Turnovers: Nevis 22, PR-B 14.
Pillager wins title
Two key runs sparked Pillager to the title.
An 11-0 run in the first half extended a 7-4 lead to 18-4 and a 22-3 spurt in the second half turned a 35-20 advantage to 57-23.
Isaacson’s three inside baskets and a 3-pointer by Lindow kept Nevis within 26-18 at the half. A jumper by Mitchell made it 35-20 before the Huskies took control. Lindow scored off a rebound and turned a steal into a layup while Bessler and Stacey contributed baskets for the Tigers down the stretch.
Isaacson’s 11 points, Lindow’s 10 points, Bessler’s nine rebounds, Mitchell’s eight rebounds and Stacey’s five steals led the Tigers, who fell to 4-4. Nevis made 9 of 52 field goals (including 1 of 15 3-pointers) and 16 of 29 free throws in the game.
Olivia Peterson (18), Jada Loucks (15) and Juliana Ewald (14) scored in double figures for Pillager, which made 7 of 18 3-pointers in improving to 4-3.