For a team known for shooting a lot of 3-pointers, it was ironic that a layup at the buzzer lifted the Menahga girls basketball team to a 57-55 victory over Park Rapids Thursday night at the Area High School gym.
Kati Neisess scored the winning layup as time expired to lift the Braves to 2-0 on the season. The loss spoiled the Panthers' home opener as Park Rapids fell to 0-2.
Both teams made clutch shots down the stretch before the Braves won it in at the end.
Menahga appeared to be in control when Hannah Dissmore hit two free throws with 24 seconds left for a 55-51 advantage.
The Panthers rallied when Heather Tretbar hit a free throw with 20 seconds to go and hit a 3-pointer with :04 showing to tie the game at 55-55.
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After a timeout, the Braves broke Park Rapids' pressure defense to set up the game-winner by Neisess.
Each team held leads in the first half before Park Rapids used a 17-4 run to end the half for a 31-22 advantage at the break.
A pair of baskets off rebounds by Hannah Wolff, two 3-pointers by Tretbar, a jumper by Danielle Dent and a layup by Mindy Lawrence gave the Panthers a 14-9 edge with 9:24 to play in the first half. Dissmore hit two 3-pointers and Megan Cleveland had a 3-pointer to account for the Braves' scoring.
Menahga responded with a 9-0 run to take an 18-14 lead. Two layups by Cleveland, another 3-pointer by Dissmore and a layup by Neisess put the Braves in front at the 7:04 mark.
Defensive pressure shut down Menahga's outside shooting as the Panthers put together a 13-1 run. Dent started that run with a layup and a three-point play off a rebound by Wolff gave Park Rapids a 19-18 edge with 5:18 to play. A basket by Ashley Domino, a 3-pointer by Tretbar and a basket off a rebound by Domino made it 27-19 with 2:14 left.
A 3-pointer by Andrea Salmen pulled Menahga to within 27-22 with 1:12 showing, but jumpers by Holly Roepke and Dent gave the Panthers their biggest lead of the game at 31-22 at the half.
Menahga opened the second half with a 10-0 spurt to regain the lead. A jumper by Cleveland, back-to-back layups by Rachael Bruer, and a layup by Neisess sparked that run, which made it 32-31 with 14:24 to play.
A jumper by Dent and layup by Tretbar put Park Rapids in front 37-32 and a jumper by Kayla Stursa and a basket off a rebound by Lawrence pushed the Panthers' lead to 41-34 with 7:15 to go.
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Menahga took advantage of Park Rapids' foul trouble to stay close. Cleveland, Bruer and Dissmore each hit two free throws and Cleveland scored on a layup as the Braves stayed within 43-42 with 3:35 left.
Lawrence scored off a rebound and Wolff scored on a fastbreak layup as the Panthers led 47-42 with 3:01 remaining.
Three-point baskets by Cleveland and Bruer tied the game at 49-49 with 1:55 to play before two free throws by Lawrence gave the Panthers a 51-49 edge.
Menahga regained the lead when Cleveland hit two free throws at the 1:10 mark and scored on a layup with 38 seconds to go. Two free throws by Dissmore with 24 seconds left gave the Braves a 55-51 lead before Tretbar's fourth 3-pointer of the game knotted it at 55-55. Neisess then scored the game-winner to cap off an exciting finish.
Cleveland led the Braves with 21 points while Dissmore added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Bruer also hit double figures with 11 points while dishing out four assists.
Tretbar led the Panthers with 16 points and Lawrence added 12 points. Wolff and Dent combined for 17 more points.
The Panthers will host Bagley Thursday night.
Braves defeat Waubun
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Cleveland's 24 points and six assists led Menahga to a 72-46 in the season opener against Waubun last Tuesday night.
Bruer scored 16 points and Dissmore added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Braves.
MENAHGA: M. Cleveland 24, R. Bruer 16, Dissmore 15, Miller 8, Skoog 5, Neisess 2, White 1, T. Cleveland 1.
WAUBUN: Lhotka 10, Lundon 9, Jasken 8, Stevens 7, Winter 7, Haugo 5.
Halftime: Menahga 30, Waubun 19. Rebounds: Menahga 36 (Dissmore 7, Tormanen 5, R. Bruer 3, M. Cleveland 3, Neisess 3, Skoog 3, T. Cleveland 3, White 2, Tchida 2, Pho 2, Miller 1, Salmen 1, L. Bruer 1). Assists: Menahga 21 (M. Cleveland 6, Dissmore 4, R. Bruer 2, Miller 2, Pho 2, T. Cleveland 2, Salmen 1, Neisess 1, Tormanen 1). Steals: Menahga 14 (Dissmore 3, T. Cleveland 3, R. Bruer 2, Miller 2, M. Cleveland 2, Pho 1, Salmen 1).
