Posted: 12/1/04

Girls basketball team loses close one to North Branch

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

North Branch was too much for the Forest Lake High School girls basketball team last Tuesday night. North Branch beat the Rangers 49-42 in the Rangers season opener.

ìIt was a good game,î Rangers head coach Jack Bender said. ìNorth Branch is always good. They always seem to be first or second in their conference so we knew it was going to be a tough game.î

Renee Frericks led the Rangers with 16 points and seven steals. Sophomore Janelle Winiecki came off the bench and gave the Rangers a lift when they were down early and scored ten points.

ìWeíre playing a lot of kids this year,î Bender said. ìWe played five sophomores with Alisha Johnson starting at point and Andrea Thompson starting at post.î

Despite being overpowered, the Rangers didnít give up.

ìIt was an up and down game and we were down by double digit points twice and came back to take a lead or tie the game,î Bender said. ìThatís encouraging because we havenít been able to do that in the last two years.î

The Rangers next game is today, Thursday, at Cretin-Derham Hall at 7 p.m.

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