The Menahga girls basketball team ended the game with a 14-4 run to rally for a 41-34 Park Region Conference victory at New York Mills on Friday, Jan. 31.

New York Mills held a 30-27 lead before the Braves took the lead for good on Janie Tormanen’s jumper with 5:24 to play. Menahga followed by making 10 free throws to maintain the advantage.

The Eagles took control early by expanding a 12-0 lead to 16-1. A layup by Tormanen and two baskets by Maryn Pinoniemi cut the gap to 16-9 before a jumper by Tormanen and a 3-pointer by Pinoniemi at the buzzer pulled Menahga to within 18-16 at the half.

Lela Peterson’s 3-pointer, two layups by Tormanen and a three-point play gave Menahga its first lead of the game at 27-26 with 8:37 remaining. New York Mills briefly reclaimed the lead before the Braves took charge down the stretch.

Pinoniemi’s 14 points and Tormanen’s 15 rebounds, three assists and three steals led the Braves, who improved to 7-2 in the conference and 13-7 overall. Menahga defeated NYM 46-38 on Dec. 17.

New York Mills fell to 5-5 in conference games and 12-9 overall.

MENAHGA: K. Hendrickson 0 0-0 0, Pinoniemi 4 5-5 14, L. Peterson 1 2-4 5, T. Hendrickson 1 6-10 8, Tormanen 3 2-8 8, An. Lake 2 0-0 4, Pfeifer 0 2-2 2. Totals: 11 for 41 (FG), 17 for 29 (FT).

NEW YORK MILLS: Bauck 1 2-2 5, Polman 2 0-4 5 Kawlewski 2 0-0 4, Thompson 3 3-8 9, Riedel 3 0-2 6 Olson 2 1-2 5. Totals: 13 for 42 (FG), 6 for 18 (FT).

Halftime: NYM 18, Menahga 16. Three-pointers: Pinoniemi 1, L. Peterson 1, Bauck 1, Polman 1. Team fouls: Menahga 17, NYM 23. Rebounds: Menahga 32 (Tormanen 15, T. Hendrickson 4, Pfeifer 4, Pinoniemi 3, K. Hendrickson 3, An. Lake 2, L. Peterson 1). Assists: Menahga 7 (Tormanen 3, Pinoniemi 1, L. Peterson 1, K. Hendrickson 1, Pfeifer 1). Steals: Menahga 8 (Tormanen 3, Pfeifer 3, Pinoniemi 2). Turnovers: Menahga 19, NYM 14.

Braves defeat WCA

The Braves had to overcome another early deficit in a 68-51 win over West Central Area at Menahga on Thursday, Jan. 30.

West Central Area jumped out to an 11-7 lead before the Braves countered with a 20-8 run. Three inside baskets by Tara Hendrickson, two baskets by Tormanen and a 3-pointer by Kate Hendrickson gave Menahga a 27-19 lead. Two more inside baskets by Tormanen provided a 32-26 lead at the intermission.

Layups by Tara Hendrickson and Pinoniemi, a three-point play by Tormanen, 3-pointers by Tara Hendrickson and Martha Peterson, and inside baskets by Kate Hendrickson and Tormanen extended the advantage to 55-38. Another 3-pointer by Martha Peterson, a three-point play by Kate Hendrickson and a jumper by Tormanen helped ice the win.

Tormanen (18), Tara Hendrickson (17), Kate Hendrickson (13) and Pinoniemi (10) paced a balanced scoring attack for the Braves. Kate Hendrickson (9), Tara Hendrickson (7) and Tormanen (6) combined for 22 rebounds while Lela Peterson and Tara Hendrickson had four assists each.

Lexi Bright (13) and Hailey Bennett (11) paced WCA, which fell to 14-5.

WEST CENTRAL AREA: Nelson 2 0-0 5, Bennett 4 2-2 11, Fernholz 2 0-0 5, ULrich 2 3-3 8, Bright 4 2-5 13, Hansen 2 2-2 7, Stark 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 for 45 (FG), 9 for 12 (FT).

MENAHGA: K. Hendrickson 3 6-7 13, Pinoniemi 3 3-4 10, L. Peterson 1 0-0 2, T. Hendrickson 6 4-6 17, Tormanen 7 4-5 18, M. Peterson 2 0-0 6, Am. Lake 0 0-0 0, An. Lake 1 0-0 2, Pfeifer 0 0-0 0, Koll 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 for 53 (FG), 17 for 22 (FT).

Halftime: Menahga 32, WCA 26. Three-pointers: Nelson 1, Bennett 1, Fernholz 1, Ulrich 1, Bright 3, Hansen 1, K. Hendrickson 1, Pinoniemi 1, T. Hendrickson 1, M. Peterson 2. Team fouls: WCA 18, Menahga 15. Rebounds: Menahga 30 (K. Hendrickson 9, T. Hendrickson 7, Tormanen 6, Pfeifer 3, Pinoniemi 2, L. Peterson 2, An. Lake 1). Assists: Menahga 12 (L. Peterson 4, T. Hendrickson 4, Pinoniemi 2, K. Hendrickson 1, Pfeifer 1). Steals: Menahga 8 (L. Peterson 2, T. Hendrickson 2, Tormanen 1, Am. Lake 1, Pinoniemi 1, Pfeifer 1). Blocked shots: Menahga 1 (T. Hendrickson). Turnovers: WCA 19, Menahga 13.