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Quiring, Becker power Fairmont hoopsters to opening victory

POWER IN THE PAINT — Fairmont post player Cadee Becker (31) powers by Windom Area’s Tristyn Maras (33) for a basket during Big South Conference action Tuesday night at Cardinal Gym in Fairmont. The Cardinals’ Olivia Ortega and the Eagles’ Hadley Sammons (2) look on. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Rayah Quiring and Cadee Becker packed a potent 1-2 offensive and defensive punch to power the Fairmont Cardinals to a 62-45 Big South Conference basketball victory over the Windom Area Eagles on Tuesday night.

Quiring neared rare triple-double territory by scoring a co-game-best 15 points to complement seven rebounds and a game-leading seven steals, while Becker finished with a double-double performance of a co-game-high 15 points to go with a game-best 11 rebounds during the Cardinals’ season-opener in Fairmont.

“Defensively, we used Rayah to slow down their guard (freshman Hadley Sammons), who scored 32 (points) in Windom’s opening win over Hills-Beaver Creek last week,” said Fairmont head coach Sara Junkermeier. “Rayah’s length (6 feet even) and speed set the early defensive tone for us.”

Quiring, Emma Gudahl and Grace Pendergast each dialed long distance to account equally for nine of the Cardinals’ initial 13 points for a tie with the Eagles at the 8:54 juncture.

After Madi Hogan swooshed a trey for Windom Area, Becker’s work on the offensive glass triggered Fairmont’s ensuing 12-0 scoring surge that built a 25-16 lead with just 3:30 remaining before intermission.

Cassidy Schultz grabbed a deflected basketball for a low-post lay-in, Pendergast nailed a 15-foot baseline pull-up jumper and Gudahl hit a solo free throw. Brittney Mosloski’s steal and dish to Quiring for a breakaway basket, followed by two Mosloski free throws and a Becker single charity toss accounted for the damage.

Quiring and Becker then worked in perfect unison to help close out the first half. Becker spotted Quiring for the second of her three 3s from the right wing before the two Cardinals traded roles. Quiring threaded a pass to a cutting Becker for a low-post leaner to widen the gap to 30-21.

Jenna Veenker, however, drilled a 3-pointer and Hannah Dauer rim-rolled in a runner in the final 37 seconds to whittle the Eagles’ deficit to 30-26 at halftime.

“Cadee just keeps working hard in the paint on both ends of the court, and she took over during the early stages of the second half,” said Junkermeier.

Becker’s putback basket served as the catalyst behind the Cardinals’ 15-2 offensive avalanche to open the second 18-minute segment.

Schultz knocked down a 3-pointer for Fairmont before Hadley Sammons pocketed one of her team-best four steals and went the distance for two of her eight points on the game to interrupt the home team’s momentum temporarily.

Quiring answered quickly with a putback basket and an ensuing steal-turned-layup before Becker cashed in another offensive board for two points. Mosloski hit a leaner in the lane for two of her eight points before Pendergast converted one of her seven rebounds into a putback for two of her seven points off the bench.

Ava Terfehr, Gudahl and Quiring each snapped the nets on 3-pointers during the final seven minutes of regulation to cap the Cardinals’ 17-point margin of victory.

Tristyn Maras scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace the Eagles, while teammates KJ Huska and Kameron Rupp supplied eight points apiece.

Fairmont (1-0) travels to Waseca on Thursday night for another conference game, while Windom Area (1-1) plays host to Fulda on Friday night.

Windom Area 26-19–45

Fairmont 30-32–62

Grace Pendergast and Brylee Miller each scored 12 points to power Fairmont to a 56-25 triumph over Windom Area during B-squad action Tuesday night in Fairmont.

Pendergast also grabbed six rebounds, Abi Peyman netted nine points and Nevaeh Rahm chipped in six points and six boards for the Cardinals (1-0).

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 64, Martin County West 61 (OT) — Olivia Harazin sank 5 of 6 free throws to help the Knights outscore the Mavericks in the extra session, 10-7, to open the season with a Valley Conference victory on Tuesday night in Sherburn.

Sophomore post player Liv Borchardt netted 14 of her team-leading 24 points during the second half and overtime to top Martin County West’s performance.

Freshman wing Emily Anderson connected for two 3-pointers to help trigger her 15-point contribution to the Mavericks’ effort, while teammate Kari Matejka also sank a pair of trifectas to pace her 12-point total.

The Mavericks made only 4 of 20 free throws on the game.

Martin County West (0-1) plays host to Mountain Lake Area on Friday night in Sherburn.

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