Lela Peterson made three 3-pointers in the first half as the Menahga girls basketball team jumped out to a 34-12 lead in coasting to a 65-35 Park Region Conference victory over Verndale at Menahga on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Three-pointers by Peterson and Maryn Pinoniemi, two layups by Pinoniemi and a layup by Peterson gave the Braves an early 14-0 lead. Martha Peterson and Lela Peterson connected on 3-pointers and Tara Hendrickson had two layups as Menahga extended the lead to 24-3. A jumper by Hendrickson, a layup off a steal by Annie Lake, and a layup and a 3-pointer by Lela Peterson made it 34-12 at the half.
The Pirates cut the margin to 37-25, but Menahga responded with a 14-0 run as two layups, a 3-pointer and a three-point play by Hendrickson and a 3-pointer by Lela Peterson produced a 51-25 advantage. Layups by Lake, Pinoniemi and Samara Kicker along with 3-pointers by Kate Hendrickson and Pinoniemi capped off the win.
Tara Hendrickson’s 19 points, Lela Peterson’s 17 points and three steals, and Pinoniemi’s 12 points and three steals led the Braves. Kate Hendrickson contributed seven rebounds and joined Lake with three assists as Menahga improved to 10-2 in conference play and 16-7 overall. The Braves, who forced 28 turnovers and made 9 of 21 3-pointers in the game, defeated Verndale 68-25 on Jan. 4. Henning tops the conference standings with an 11-1 record.
Melissa Hammer (13) and Joelle Bounds (12) scored in double figures for the Pirates, who fell to 1-10 in the conference and 7-14 overall.
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VERNDALE: Bounds 3 3-4 12, Brownlow 1 0-0 2, Hammer 5 3-3 13, Schmitz 1 0-3 2, Brevik 1 0-0 2, Olsson 2 0-0 4. Totals: 13 for 43 (FG), 6 for 10 (FT).
MENAHGA: K. Hendrickson 2 3-4 8, Pinoniemi 5 0-0 12, L. Peterson 6 1-3 17, T. Hendrickson 7 4-8 19, Pfeifer 0 0-0 0, Lehto 0 0-0 0, M. Peterson 1 0-0 3, Am. Lake 0 0-0 0, An. Lake 2 0-0 4, Koll 0 0-0 0, Kicker 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 for 52 (FG), 8 for 15 (FT).
Halftime: Menahga 34, Verndale 12. Three-pointers: Bounds 3, K. Hendrickson 1, Pinoniemi 2, L. Peterson 4, T. Hendrickson 1, M. Peterson 1. Team fouls: Verndale 16, Menahga 11. Rebounds: Menahga 22 (K. Hendrickson 7, Pinoniemi 4, Pfeifer 3, Am. Lake 2, L. Peterson 2, T. Hendrickson 2, Koll 1, An. Lake 1). Assists: Menahga 14 (K. Hendrickson 3, An. Lake 3, L. Peterson 2, Pinoniemi 2, Pfeifer 2, T. Hendrickson 1, Am. Lake 1). Steals: Menahga 11 (L. Peterson 3, Pinoniemi 3, T. Henrickson ,2 K. Hendrickson 1, An. Lake 1, Pfeifer 1). Blocked shots: Menahga 2 (K. Hendrickson 1, T. Hendrickson 1). Turnovers: Verndale 28, Menahga 12.
