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Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
Forest Lake was already locked into a No. 2 seed for Thursday’s Section 7AAAA playoff game, but it would probably feel better for the girls basketball team if it was hosting Blaine on a four-game winning streak, instead of the last-second loss the Rangers suffered at Stillwater.
On the other hand, a bitter defeat is usually an effective motivator. And seeing the Ponies’ pick up the 55-54 victory on a full court drive by Taylor Stippel to end the game is not something Forest Lake will easily forget.
“Friday at Stillwater had the setting of a big rival game,” head coach Jen Wagner said. “Annie Berner and Gina Lange really had us off to a great start and then Stillwater sat in a zone much of the remainder of the game.”
What happened next was a stagnant Ranger offense, which even though there was a lack of movement, the girls were still inclined to put up a variety of shots. With minimal defensive pressure, Forest Lake was mired in a trifecta of bad ingredients.
Down by only four at intermission, the girls answered with 34 in the second half, but Stillwater’s 30th and 31st points proved to be the most important.
Wagner acknowledged her squad’s subpar play, but the Rangers rarely pack it in early.
Lange was the leading scorer with 17 points, and she had plenty of support from Berner’s 14, Abi Iverson’s 12 and Molly Steele with nine points.
“We continued to fight and show heart down the stretch,” Wagner said. “I was very proud of the way all of our kids responded and I do believe that even though we lost the game, it will help us improve and learn from as we start playoffs on Thursday.”
The final week in the Suburban East Conference opened with a road game at Roseville, who, just like Stillwater, was celebrating Senior Night.
With her team combating the Raiders’ extra emotion, Wagner was pleased to see her group turn in an outstanding performance for approximately 27 minutes. Concerns arose with the other nine minutes of the contest, in what would become a 66-57 Forest Lake win.
“In the first half, we were able to really let our defense be our best offense by trapping all over the floor, creating tips and steals, which turned into lay-ups and high percentage shots,” Wagner shared.
Along the way, Iverson was shooting a scorching 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, but in the second half the Rangers were careless with the basketball and their intensity wilted.
Roseville jumped at the chance to get back in the game, making the final score closer that it should have been, in Wagner’s eyes, but her team executed when it mattered and took home a win.
With the regular season out of the way, Forest Lake (16-10, 8-8) now has an opportunity to cap off an exceptional year with a trip to the state tournament.
Blaine (5-21) comes to town on Thursday, Feb. 28 for a 7 p.m. tip. A win at home would send the second-seeded Rangers into the semifinals on Wednesday, March 5 in North Branch.
Box score
Forest Lake 20 34 - 54
Stillwater 24 31 - 55
Forest Lake - Iverson 12, Steele 9, Berner 14, Lange 17, Blake 2.
Stillwater - Van Klei 6, Selmecki 8, Stippel 17, Syman 13, Sahli 7, Leuders 4.
Fouled out - FL, Kolnberger. Free throws - FL 9-13, Still 10-17. Three-pointers - FL 5, Still 3.
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