One of the poorest shooting nights of the season prevented the Park Rapids girls basketball team from sharing the Mid-State Conference title.
The Panthers, who had been shooting 45 percent as a team from the field this season, shot only 33 percent from the field and missed half their free throws in a 58-48 loss to Staples-Motley in the regular-season finale Thursday night at the Area High School gym.
The loss dropped Park Rapids to 8-2 in the conference and 21-4 overall. Detroit Lakes finished conference play with a 9-1 record.
Despite a poor shooting performance, the Panthers trailed only 47-46 with 2:18 to play before Staples-Motley went on an 11-0 run to seal the win.
Two inside baskets by Janessa Wolff, a 3-pointer by Nicki Schumacher and a layup by Lauren Knuttila gave the Panthers a 9-8 lead. Kendell Spar then hit four straight jumpers as Staples-Motley claimed an 18-9 lead with 8:08 to play in the first half.
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The Cardinals would lead the rest of the game.
A jumper by Wolff and layups by Knuttila and Lindsey Czeczok off steals cut the deficit to 18-15 at the 6:17 mark before a three-point play by Brittany Miller and a 3-pointer by Spar made it 24-17. A 3-pointer by Miller pushed the lead to 29-19 before jumpers by Wolff and Heather Tretbar pulled Park Rapids to within 30-23 at the half.
Another 3-pointer by Miller gave the Cardinals a 37-29 lead with 13:41 to play before a jumper by Ashley Grewe, a 3-pointer by Knuttila and a jumper by Wolff closed the margin to 39-38 with 10:05 left.
After Miller connected on another 3-pointer, Wolff scored off a rebound and Czeczok and Wolff scored inside as Park Rapids trailed 45-44. Two free throws by Wolff made it 47-46 with 2:18 left, but Staples-Motley used baskets by Spar and Miller for a 51-46 lead with 1:22 to go.
Four free throws by Miller pushed the lead to 55-46 with 41 seconds to play before two free throws by Samantha Rosenthal made it 58-46 with nine seconds showing.
Wolff led the Panthers with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Knuttila added 11 points and four assists. Park Rapids made just 2 of 17 3-point shots and committed 21 turnovers.
Miller finished with 20 points and Spar added 15 points as the Cardinals made 6 of 11 3-pointers to improve to 3-7 in the conference and 11-13 overall.
The Panthers, the No. 2 seed in the north half, host No. 3 Perham in the first round of the Section 8AAA playoffs Thursday night at 7.
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STAPLES-MOTLEY: Pearson 1 0-1 2, Robinson 1 1-2 3, Pierce 0 0-0 0, Spar 7 0-0 15, Miller 7 2-3 20, Einerwold 2 7-10 12, Rosenthal 1 4-5 6. Totals: 19 of 40 (FG), 14 of 21 (FT).
PARK RAPIDS: Knuttila 4 2-2 11, Schumacher 2 0-3 5, Gravalin 0 0-2 0, Czeczok 2 0-0 4, Wolff 8 2-3 18, Tretbar 1 0-1 2, Grewe 1 2-2 4, Pike 1 2-3 4. Totals: 19 of 57 (FG), 8 of 16 (FT).
Halftime: S-M 30, Park Rapids 23. Three-point field goals: Spar 1, Miller 4, Einerwold 1, Knuttila 1, Schumacher 1. Total fouls: S-M 19, Park Rapids 21. Fouled out: Czeczok, Schumacher. Rebounds: Park Rapids 31 (Wolff 12, Tretbar 6, Pike 4, Czeczok 4, Schumacher 2, Knuttila 1, Gravalin 1, Grewe 1). Assists: Park Rapids 12 (Knuttila 4, Wolff 3, Gravalin 3, Schumacher 1, Tretbar 1). Steals: Park Rapids 5 (Wolff 3, Knuttila 1, Schumacher 1). Blocked shots: Park Rapids 1 (Grewe). Turnovers: S-M 24, Park Rapids 21.
BAGLEY: Storhaug 2 0-0 5, Skersick 2 0-0 4, Fredrick 4 0-0 12, Benson 0 1-2 1, Gray 7 0-2 16, Trefz 4 1-1 9, Thorson 1 0-2 2, Davis 2 0-0 4. Totals: 22 of 51 (FG), 2 of 7 (FT).
