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Cardinals stave off Bucs hoopsters by 1

FAIRMONT — Fairmont utilized full-court defensive pressure to trigger its comeback bid against rival Blue Earth Area during Big South Conference basketball action Friday night at Cardinal Gym.

The hometown Cardinals held the Bucs scoreless for a 9-minute span early in the second half to transform a three-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead with 8:42 remaining in regulation.

Fairmont then applied smothering player-to-player defense during the final 15 seconds to force Blue Earth Area into a last-second errant toss to escape its home court with a narrow 43-42 victory in hand.

“Our players did a nice job of being aware of who we needed to stop and recognized the personnel they were defending,” Cardinals head coach Don Waletich said in reference to his lineup’s 13-0 offensive surge in the second segment. “We had better balance offensively tonight, too, with everyone producing four to 14 points apiece.”

Trailing 27-24 on the heels of Buc power forward Lindsey Norman’s putback basket, Cardinal guards Abby DeWitt and Lexi Lunn created backcourt chaos to force back-to-back Blue Earth Area turnovers during the second half’s early stages.

DeWitt penetrated and spotted Lunn along the baseline for a one-handed runner before DeWitt garnered one of her game-high five steals, drove, drew the foul and sank one free throw to knot the game at 27-all — the game’s fourth and final tie — with 14:11 left in the game.

Brenna Cutler, who pulled down a team-best seven rebounds, connected on a solo charity toss before DeWitt produced a steal-turned-traditional 3-point play one minute later.

Taylor Crissinger later worked the low post to earn two free throws for Fairmont, Brenna Cutler added one charity toss and DeWitt garnered a theft and banked home the 10-foot pull-up. Crissinger added one free throw for a 37-27 lead with 8:42 remaining.

Samantha Ripley, who contributed eight points to the Bucs’ effort, ended the visitors’ offensive drought by hitting a putback basket with 7 minutes remaining.

Caitlin Rorman, who finished with a team-leading 12 points, buried her third 3-pointer of the game off a Ripley assist to trigger the Bucs’ ensuing late charge.

Lunn, who netted 10 points on the game, delivered a pivotal steal-turned-layup, but Reegan Howard and Brittany Johnson came off the Blue Earth Area bench to supply instant firepower.

Howard, who finished with eight points, tossed in a cutter off a Lindsey Norman entry pass before Claire Cutler cashed in a DeWitt low-post pass.

Johnson then drained a 3-pointer off a Rorman assist to whittle the Bucs’ deficit to 42-37 with 2:06 remaining.

Samantha Barslou hit a pair of free throws at the 2-minute mark to inch Blue Earth Area within three before Brenna Cutler and Howard exchanged solo charity tosses.

Howard hit a putback basket at the 22-second juncture to trim the Bucs’ gap to 43-42 before the visitors forced a Cardinal turnover with 15 seconds remaining.

Fairmont played solid denial and fronting defense as time elapsed to close out the home team’s win.

DeWitt topped all scorers with 14 points for the Cardinals, while Brooke Hunwardsen delivered solid all-around numbers of five points, six rebounds and three assists. Brenna Cutler contributed five points and seven boards, Crissinger supplied five points and six rebounds, while Claire Cutler added four points and six caroms.

Rorman distributed three assists to complement her 12-point performance for the Bucs, while Lindsey Norman tallied five points to go with a game-high 10 rebounds.

Fairmont (2-2) plays host to Belle Plaine on Tuesday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont.

Blue Earth Area (2-2) plays host to Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther on Tuesday night in Blue Earth.

B.E. Area     25-17–42

Fairmont     22-21–43

FAIRMONT (43)

Crissinger 1-8 3-4 5, Hunwardsen 2-4 1-3 5, C. Cutler 2-5 0-3 4, DeWitt 5-10 2-3 14, Lunn 4-9 2-7 10, B. Cutler 1-4 3-6 5. Totals 15-38 11-26 43.

B.E. AREA (42)

Rorman 4-10 1-2 12, L. Norman 2-8 1-6 5, Ripley 4-8 0-0 8, Barslou 1-10 2-2 5, A. Norman 0-1 0-3 0, Mensing 0-4 0-0 0, Sofie Blair 0-0 1-2 1, Howard 3-5 1-2 8, Johnson 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 15-47 6-17 42.

3-pointers: B.E. Area 6-21 (Rorman 3-9, Barslou 1-7, Johnson 1-1, Howard 1-3, A. Norman 0-1); Fairmont 2-14 (DeWitt 2-4, Crissinger 0-4, Hunwardsen 0-2, Lunn 0-2, B. Cutler 0-2). Fouled out: C. Cutler and L. Norman. Rebounds: FHS 30 (B. Cutler 7; Crissinger, Hunwardsen and C. Cutler 6 each); BEA 30 (L. Norman 10). Assists: FHS 6 (Hunwardsen 3); BEA 6 (Rorman 3). Steals: FHS 9 (DeWitt 5); BEA 5.

Fairmont defeated Blue Earth Area, 53-32, during C-squad action Thursday.

Madysen Allen and Kaitlin Scott scored 10 points apiece for the Cardinals, while Faith Olson contributed seven points to the win.

Martin County West 58, Alden-Conger 48 — Sierra Williamson connected on all eight of her field goals to produce 19 points to help propel the Mavericks to a 10-point Valley Conference victory over the Knights on Friday night in Alden.

Sierra Williamson also distributed three assists, while teammate Maia Taylor generated eight points, a game-best 13 rebounds and a game-high seven assists in the winning effort.

Renae Eckmann tallied 11 points and pocketed four steals for MCW, Alyssa Williamson contributed 10 points, while Hunter Wrightson netted eight points, including two 3-pointers.

The Mavericks made 23 of 45 field goals for 51 percent, including 2 of 7 behind the 3-point arc, to go with 10-for-19 free-throw shooting.

Martin County West (3-0) plays host to Luverne at 1 p.m. today in Trimont.

MCW     27-31–58

A-C        22-26–48

North Union 57, West Hancock 43 — Hallie Reese and Bre Anderson combined equally for 30 points to power the Warriors to a 14-point Top of Iowa Conference triumph over the Eagles on Friday night in Britt.

Reese scored 15 points behind 6-for-7 field-goal shooting to go with a game-high four blocks, while Bre Anderson hit three 3-pointers to fuel her 15-point effort to go with seven rebounds.

Samantha Hagedorn neared double-double territory by scoring eight points to go with nine rebounds for North Union, while Kate Anderson netted seven points and doled out three assists.

Alexis Valvick contributed six points, six rebounds and four assists to the Warriors’ winning ways, while Chloe Lofstrom produced six points and six rebounds.

The Warriors made 16 of 41 field goals, including 6 of 13 from 3-point range, and 19 of 27 free throws.

North Union (5-0) plays host to Belmond-Klemme on Tuesday in Armstrong.

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