Bruins keep state tourney hopes alive

<> It was a battle until the waning minute of the game as the South Bruins stayed alive in their hunt for a state tournament berth with a 54-41 win over Grand Forks Central Friday night. Coming off an emotional triple overtime loss the night before, it took the Bruins a while to get things going. Amy Hannaher sparked the Bruins in the opening quarter off the bench with 4 points, while Jessica Trautwein and Mel Hageman each scored a bucket - the Bruins still trailed 9-8 at the quarter. South played better offensively in the second period as Trautwein scored 7 points in that period and in so doing, went over the 1000 point mark for her career. Hannaher also kept things going by going 4 for 4 from the line, and Kari Flaagan also scored on a jump shot from outside and went 2 for 2 from the line. The Knights stayed close though, as Laura Polovitz knocked down her second three pointer of the half, and the rest of Central's players all helped in the scoring - 5 different Knights scored in the quarter and at halftime, South led by a slim 23-22 margin. Neither team was able to mount a run in the third quarter. South got 6 more points from Trautwein and a three pointer from Mandy Dobmeier, but Central countered with a three from Ashley Lizakowski and a ton of free throws. The Knights wanted to try and draw fouls as they continuously attacked the Bruins defense with dribble penetration, and that strategy paid off as the Knights shot 21 freethrows in the second half. South led 37-36 in a back and forth game. In the fourth quarter though, the Bruins mounted a charge - a pair of baskets from Hageman and Trautwein got things going for South to help build a 6 point lead, then a huge 3 pointer from Hannaher really extended the lead for South, and they were not threatened again. Christa Salzwedel iced the game for South by going 6 for 6 down the stretch from the line. South held on for the 54-41 win. Trautwein again led the Bruins with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Bruins play Jamestown in a winner take all game Saturday at 1 pm. The winner advances to next weeks state tourney, and the loser has their season end.

Boxscore:
Fargo South: Kraft 0 1-2 1, Hageman 3 0-0 6, Dobmeier 2 0-0 5, Trautwein 7 3-7 17, Flaagan 2 2-2 6, Salzwedel 0 6-6 6, Hannaher 2 8-8 13; Totals: 16 20-27 54, Three point goals: Hannaher, Dobmeier

GF Central: Polovitz 2 1-5 7, Lizakowski 2 3-5 8, Bollinger 2 0-0 4, Anthony 0 1-4 1, Laidley 1 3-4 5, Roebuck 1 0-0 2, Green 3 0-1 6, Seay 0 2-2 2; Totals: 12 14-25 41, Three point goals: Polovitz 2, Lizakowski

Fouled out: Polovitz, Seay; Total Fouls: South 18, GF Central 24; Rebounds: South 45(Trautwein 11), GF Central 42(Green 8); Assists: South 11(Trautwein 3); Steals: South 5(Salzwedel 2) Turnovers: South 17, GFC 7

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