The Park Rapids girls basketball team received the No. 6 seed in the North and will open the Section 8AA playoffs at No. 3 Crosby-Ironton Thursday night at 6.
Crosby-Ironton defeated the Panthers 66-28 and 69-51 during the regular season. C-I has a 19-5 record while the Panthers a 6-18.
In Thursday night's other North quarterfinal games, No. 2 Pequot Lakes (17-9) hosts No. 7 Roseau (5-19) and No. 4 Warroad (13-11) hosts No. 5 Bagley (13-13). The North semifinals will be held at Bemidji State University Saturday night with the Warroad vs. Bagley winner playing No. 1 Crookston (19-5) at 6 and the Park Rapids vs. C-I winner playing the Pequot Lakes vs. Roseau winner at 7:45.
In the South quarterfinals, No. 1 Hawley (19-4) hosts No. 8 Perham (2-22), No. 2 Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (14-8) hosts No. 7 Barnesville (12-11), No. 3 Pelican Rapids (17-7) hosts No. 6 Breckenridge (12-10) and No. 4 Frazee (18-6) hosts No. 5 Wadena-Deer Creek (16-9).
W-DC defeats Panthers
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Wadena-Deer Creek overcame a slow start Thursday night to hand the Panthers a 71-62 Mid-State Conference loss at the Area High School gym.
A jumper by Megan Grimes, a jumper and two free throws by Charity Ridlon, and two layups by Tori Lauderbaugh gave the Panthers a 10-5 lead with 14:55 to play in the first half.
Lauderbaugh scored off a rebound, Bria Wolff hit a jumper, and Ridlon hit a jumper and 3-pointer as the Panthers extended their lead to 20-11 with 9:48 to play in the first half.
W-DC responded with a 21-2 run to take the lead for good. Caitlin Volkmann scored twice inside and hit two free throws before Hope Theisen and Volkmann hit 3-pointers as the Wolverines led 32-22 at the 3:28 mark. Jumpers by Grimes and Ridlon kept the Panthers within 39-27 at the break.
Theisen opened the second half by hitting three field goals as W-DC extended its lead to 49-30 with 14:33 to play. Park Rapids trailed 65-45 with 6:46 remaining before three inside baskets by Gabie Johnson and a 3-pointer by Morgan Olson cut the gap to 65-55 with 3:28 left.
Five free throws by Caitlin Volkmann and Casey Volkmann pushed the lead to 70-55 with 1:59 remaining. The Panthers closed with a 7-0 run as a basket off a rebound by Wolff, two free throws by Olson and a layup by Justine Rittgers cut the gap to single digits.
Ridlon led the Panthers with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Klein added 11 points and Johnson had 10 points. Lauderbaugh and Wolff also hauled down seven rebounds apiece as the Panthers fell to 0-10 in the conference.
Theisen led a balanced attack with 19 points as the Wolverines improved to 5-4 in conference play.
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W-DC: Theisen 7 3-3 19, Schissel 2 1-2 5, Miron 4 1-2 9, Dumpprope 1 0-2 2, Moenkedick 4 1-4 9, Cas. Volkmann 0 4-4 4, Cait. Volkmann 3 7-9 14, Barthey 0 0-2 0, Craig 3 3-9 9. Totals: 24 (FG), 20 for 37 (FT).
PARK RAPIDS: Grimes 2 0-2 4, Klein 1 9-12 11, Lauderbaugh 3 0-0 6, Ridlon 6 4-6 17, Wolff 3 1-2 7, Rittgers 1 0-0 2, Olson 1 2-2 5, H. Johnson 0 0-0 0, Isaacson 0 0-0 0, Hilmanowski 0 0-0 0, G. Johnson 4 2-6 10. Totals: 21 for 56 (FG), 18 for 30 (FT).
Halftime: W-DC 39, Park Rapids 27. Three-point field goals: Theisen 2, Cait. Volkmann 1, Ridlon 1, Olson 1. Team fouls: W-DC 22, Park Rapids 22. Fouled out: Schissel, Grimes. Rebounds: Park Rapids 38 (Lauderbaugh 7, Ridlon 7, Wolff 7, Klein 5, G. Johnson 4, Grimes 3, H. Johnson 2, Rittgers 1, Olson 1, Hilmanowski 1). Assists: Park Rapids 8 (Ridlon 3, Klein 2, H. Johnson 1, Wolff 1, Hilmanowski 1). Steals: Park Rapids 6 (Grimes 2, Ridlon 2, H. Johnson 1, Lauderbaugh 1). Blocked shots: Park Rapids 3 (Klein 1, Lauderbaugh 1, G. Johnson 1). Turnovers: Park Rapids 20.
