Posted: 2/2/05
Girls hoops are improving, but still searching to find the win column
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
The Forest Lake High School girls basketball team hasnít had a lot of success in the win column since the first of the year. In fact the team has only won one game since the calendars changed, but coach Jack Bender is encouraged by the teamís recent play.
Last Tuesday the Rangers lost to Roseville 65-43. The Rangers fell behind early and faced an uphill battle as they trailed 22-11 after the first quarter. By halftime the Rangers narrowed their deficit to 35-30.
ìI am encouraged from the standpoint I am seeing more competition out of the girls and we are playing more consistent,î Bender said.
Unfortunately Roseville was able to hold off the Rangers and hold on for the victory.
ìIím not one to point out officiating, but they werenít very good either way,î Bender said. ìIím not saying we would have won the game, but that took us out of the second half.
Alicia Johnson has missed some time this season due to injuries, but guarded one of the best point guards in the state in Rosevilleís Amy Beggin. Johnson held Beggin to 13 points and scored six of her own.
Friday night the Rangers battled White Bear Lake. At halftime White Bear Lake led 21-19. A 14-11 third quarter that favored White Bear Lake proved to be the difference in the game as both teams scored 13 points in the fourth quarter. White Bear Lake won the game 48-43.
ìOne of our sophomores that I have expected a lot out of is Andrea Thompson and the last two games she really looked like she wanted to play,î Bender said. ìIf we are going to win a game, the kids with some talent and ability need to step forward and Andrea is one of those kids whoís starting to take that step.î
Thompson had seven points in the Rangers loss. Renee Frericks led the team with 14 points.
The Rangers ended their week of play with a non conference game against Champlin Park on Saturday. Champlin Park took an early six point first quarter lead that only grew as the game went on. By the end of the game Champlin Park had outscored the Rangers 61-42 for the victory.
Champlin Park is a talented and quick team,î Bender said. ìThey have been underachieving a bit and I think they took that out on us. We played with them for the first half, then their quickness just took over.î
Frericks again led the Rangers with nine points, eight steals and six rebounds.
ìThe kids are down because they havenít won a game in a while, but theyíre working hard and playing better,î Bender said. ìWe have to believe in ourselves as a team if we want to win. Basketball is really a game about decision making. We have to know when to pass the ball, when to shoot the ball and when to dribble the ball. We need to make the right choices and believe in them.î
The Rangers next game is Friday at Stillwater at 7:30 p.m.
Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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