Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

It’s took an entire regular season to get there, but it looks as if the girls basketball team has discovered how good it truly is.

Six days after sending North High School packing for the off-season, the Rangers controlled the entire game against top-seeded White Bear Lake, and held on for a 49-47 victory on Tuesday, March 6 at Concordia University in St. Paul.

From the opening tip, Forest Lake was more assertive, more aggressive and even more confident. The girls built leads of 10-2 and 23-12 before settling in with a 27-19 halftime advantage.

With the help of Alisha Johnson, Abi Iverson and Danielle Boldenow, the oppressive defense of Kelsey Kosman was able to contain the Bears’ Tanya Dickey. Dickey still scored 16 points, but she never took over the game like she did in late February.

White Bear chipped away at the small deficit in the second half, but every time they would draw close, Andrea Thompson, Anne Berner or Gina Lange would knock down a key basket.

Dickey’s two free throws made the score 48-47 with eight seconds left to play, but after Thompson tossed one in from the line, White Bear’s scramble and unsuccessful heave would end the game.

Forest Lake is now one win away from the state tournament as they face Roseville on Friday night at 7 p.m., at Concordia. The Rangers split with the Raiders during the regular season, with Roseville winning by one point, and then Forest Lake winning by two in the rematch.

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