Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

The losing streak for the girls basketball team is over. With a 48-43 victory over host Rogers High School at the Rogers Holiday Classic, the Rangers snapped a six-game trend that hadn't seen Forest Lake in the win column since Dec. 2.

That's the good news.

In the tournament's championship game on Thursday, Dec. 28, the Rangers fell to DeLaSalle by a score of 53-35, which puts Forest Lake at 3-8 on the season.

So there's the bad news, but at least the girls were able to reunite with the joys of winning.

In the loss to the DeLaSalle Islanders, Forest Lake head coach Jen Wagner watched her squad get behind early as the first half ended with DeLaSalle holding a 26-12 advantage. The Rangers may have lost six straight, but they rarely play poorly for an entire game, and this contest was no different.

Spotting the Islanders the 14-point lead, Forest Lake found its offense after intermission and kept the game much closer. The double-digit deficit proved to be too big to overcome, but the Rangers were able to battle to a 27-23 differential in the second half, bringing about the 53-35 final.

DeLaSalle had a balanced attack, with four players scoring at least eight points, but no one going for more than 16 on the night.

For the Rangers, senior Andrea Thompson was the only player to reach double figures, coming in with 12. Fellow seniors Kelsey Kosman and Janelle Winiecki chipped in with six and eight points, respectively, while sophomore Gina Lange contributed with five.

HELLO, WIN

The night before the DeLaSalle loss, Forest Lake was able to take the lead against Rogers and basically stay there.

The Royals and Rangers were even from the three-point line with four apiece, and the foul shooting was essentially a wash. However, where Rogers got their fouls proved to be costly.

The Royals, who were 5-1 going into the tournament, had junior Casey Mann lead all scorers with 21 points, but she fouled out of the game, as did junior Heather Brunn.

Taking charge for Forest Lake was point guard Alisha Johnson, who had 11 points. Behind her was a group of seven Rangers, like juniors Audrey Mills and Kasey Kolnberger who ranged between four and six points.

Thompson and Winiecki were selected to the Tournament Team.

Forest Lake will attempt to stop the current losing streak at one, when Woodbury (8-2, 2-1) comes to town on Thursday, Jan. 4.

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