It wasn’t pretty, but the Park Rapids girls basketball team will take it.
Despite shooting only 21 percent from the field and committing 17 turnovers, the Panthers were able to edge Crosby-Ironton 42-41 in the Mid-State Conference opener Friday night at the Area High School gym. The win snapped Park Rapids’ 19-game losing streak against the Rangers.
Macky Warne’s 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining tied the game at 37-37 at the end of regulation before Megan Grimes’ layup gave the Panthers a 39-37 lead with 3:35 to play in overtime. Jami Nelson’s jumper and Lauren Peterson’s steal off the ensuing inbounds pass gave the Rangers a 41-39 lead at the 2:50 mark. Bria Wolff hit a jumper to tie the game at 41-41 with 2:25 left before Katie Klein hit the game-winning free throw with :03 showing.
“It was a big win, especially since C-I is in our conference and section,” said Park Rapids head coach Tina Ridlon. “We feel our defense is what contributed to the win. Even though we knew we weren’t at our best, this win reinforces what we have been telling the girls all season: that they can compete with anyone in our section and conference. The girls are beginning to believe that.”
Grimes scored twice off rebounds, Hope Johnson hit a jumper and two free throws and Jaiden McCollum scored inside as the Panthers jumped out to a 13-8 lead with 6:49 to play in the first half. After the Rangers took a 17-15 lead at the 2:44 mark, a 3-pointer by Warne and three-point play by Gabie Johnson gave Park Rapids a 22-19 lead at the half.
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Two baskets apiece by Abby Gindorff and Lauren Peterson sparked a 13-5 run as C-I claimed a 32-27 lead with 8:19 to play. A 3-pointer by Warne, a jumper by Wolff and a layup by Grimes gave the Panthers a 34-32 lead with 6:33 remaining. Two free throws by Cyan Hale gave the Rangers a 37-34 lead with 24 seconds to play before Warne hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to force overtime.
Warne led the Panthers with 12 points while Grimes added 10 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and three assists. Gabie Johnson grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals and Wolff had three assists for the Panthers, made only 16 of 73 field goals.
Peterson (14) and Nelson (12) hit double figures for the Rangers.
CROSBY-IRONTON: Hale 0 4-9 4, Peterson 5 4-6 14, Loiland 0 2-2 2, Klancher 1 1-3 3, Nelson 5 2-3 12, Gindorff 3 0-2 6. Totals: 14 (FG), 13 for 25 (FT).
PARK RAPIDS: H. Johnson 1 2-2 4, Grimes 4 0-2 8, Klein 0 1-2 1, Wolff 2 0-3 4, G. Johnson 2 2-3 6, Wagner 1 1-2 3, Warne 4 0-0 12, McCollum 2 0-0 4, Steffel 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 for 73 (FG), 6 for 14 (FT).
Halftime: Park Rapids 22, C-I 19. Three-pointers: Warne 4. Rebounds: Park Rapids 44 (Grimes 13, G. Johnson 8, McCollum 6, Wolff 6, Wagner 5, H. Johnson 4, Klein 2). Assists: Park Rapids 12 (Grimes 3, Wolff 3, H. Johnson 2, Klein 2, McCollum 1, G. Johnson 1). Steals: Park Rapids 15 (Grimes 5, G. Johnson 5, Klein 3, H. Johnson 2). Blocked shots: Park Rapids 1 (Wolff 1). Team fouls: Park Rapids 22. Turnovers: Park Rapids 17.
