Crosby-Ironton converted its open shots while Park Rapids didn't in a Mid-State Conference girls basketball game at the Area High School gym Friday night.
The Rangers shot 68 percent from the field (25 for 37, including 7 for 8 on 3-pointers) and made 16 of 20 free throws to spark a 73-41 victory. Park Rapids shot only 25 percent from the field (11 for 44) and missed 13 free throws to remain winless on the season.
"We've got to make shots," said Park Rapids head coach Jason Mielke, whose team made only 3 of 21 field goals and 8 of 17 free throws in the first half. "We had good looks, but we're not putting the ball in the basket."
Crosby-Ironton expanded an 11-2 lead to 24-7 with 8:14 to play in the first half before two free throws by Heather Tretbar and a jumper by Hannah Wolff made it 27-12 at the 2:20 mark. Two free throws by Danielle Dent kept the Panthers within 29-14 at the half.
Tretbar opened the second half with a 3-pointer, but a pair of 3-pointers by Katie Swanhorst sparked an 18-4 run that gave C-I a 47-21 advantage with 10:42 to play.
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Wolff hit a jumper, Dent scored on a layup off a steal and Tretbar hit a jumper to make it 51-27. Wolff converted a three-point play on a layup, Kayla Stursa scored on a layup, Roepke hit a jumper and Hailey Lundin hit a jumper to cap off the scoring for Park Rapids.
Wolff led the Panthers with 14 points and three steals. Ashley Domino and Mindy Lawrence had five rebounds each, Stursa and Tretbar had two assists each, and Stursa had three steals as the Panthers fell to 0-6 on the season.
Swanhorst hit five 3-pointers and finished with 15 points to lead the Rangers, who improved to 1-1 in the conference and 3-1 overall. Alisha Moritz, a 6-foot-4 center, added 11 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the Rangers.
The Panthers traveled to Thief River Falls Tuesday night and will play at Nevis Thursday night.
CROSBY-IRONTON: Zillmer 13, Mapson 4, Swanhorst 15, Perpich 8, Spalj 6, Stanfield 7, Duffney 5, Cragun 4, Moritz 11. Totals: 25 of 37 (FG), 16 of 20 (FT).
PARK RAPIDS: Wolff 4 6-13 14, Roepke 1 3-4 5, Stursa 2 0-1 4, Tretbar 2 4-4 9, Lawrence 0 0-2 0, A. Christenson 0 0-0 0, C. Christenson 0 0-0 0, Dent 1 4-5 6, Domino 0 1-2 1, Klingenberg 0 0-0 0, Lundin 1 0-0 2. Totals: 11 of 44 (FG), 18 of 31 (FT).
Halftime: C-I 29, Park Rapids 14. Three-point field goals: Zillmer 1, Stanfield 1, Swanhorst 5, Tretbar 1. Total fouls: C-I 23, Park Rapids 13. Fouled out: Lawrence. Rebounds: Park Rapids 28 (Domino 5, Lawrence 5, Tretbar 4, Wolff 4, Dent 3, Roepke 3, Stursa 2, C. Christenson 1, Lundin 1). Assists: Park Rapids 6 (Stursa 2, Tretbar 2, Lawrence 1, Wolff 1). Steals: Park Rapids 10 (Stursa 3, Wolff 3, Dent 2, Domino 1, Tretbar 1). Blocked shots: Park Rapids 1 (Stursa 1). Turnovers: C-I 16, Park Rapids 18.
