South gets huge road win at Grafton

Fargo South responded to an intense week of practice in a big way on Friday night in a battle with the Grafton Spoilers in a game that determined which team would hold the upper hand in securing the 2nd seed in the EDC tournament next month. South came in with 2 EDC losses and Grafton with 3. With the game being a 2 point game, the winner would have second place alone and also hold the tie-breaker over the other. In one of the most important games of the year, the Bruins responded with a total team effort and defeated the Spoilers 64-50, making it 5 for 5 in road wins this season. Compare that to last year's single road win, and it is clear that the Bruins have become a more mature basketball team. The game looked to be a great battle early as the teams traded baskets for most of the first quarter. South got scoring from 6 different players in the opening quarter, including three pointers from Christa Salzwedel and Amy Hannaher, a three point play by Micaela Kruckenberg, and a pair of inside baskets from Jessica Trautwein. With the focus of South's defense on Anne Keeley and Kristen Budack, Keri Robideaux stepped up for Grafton as she tossed in 10 first quarter points. South led 21-15 after one period in which both teams shot the ball exceptionally well. The second quarter was much of the same type of team effort - in the second quarter, the Bruins got scoring from 7 different players, including more three pointers, this time from Salzwedel and Mandy Dobmeier and a big basket off the bench from Kali Odegaard. South looked to push the ball at every opportunity and got a fantastic fast break layup with some crisp passing and a finish by the hustling Trautwein right before the halftime buzzer, giving the Bruins a 40-31 lead and the momentum going into the locker room. South shot 71% in the first half on 17-24 shooting. The defenses took over in the third quarter though, but South managed to extend their lead as Kari Flaagan nailed South's 5th three pointer of the game to cap a quarter in which South led 49-38. The Bruins really took control of the game in the fourth though, again a sign of a maturing team. A pair of pull up transition baskets by Hannaher jump started the Bruins offense, then the inside combo of Trautwein and Mel Hageman hooked up for numerous high-low looks and South's superior size made the difference down the stretch. South held on for the 64-50 win. South was led in scoring, rebounding, and steals by senior Jessica Trautwein, with 13,10, and 3 respectively. The win moves South to 12-2 in the EDC and gives them a three game lead in the loss column over Grafton, the third place team. South is next in action when they travel to Grand Forks to take on the Knights on Tuesday.

Boxscore:
Fargo South: Kruckenberg 3 1-1 7, Hageman 4 1-2 9, Salzwedel 2 0-0 6, Hannaher 5 0-0 11, Trautwein 6 1-8 13, Dobmeier 3 2-2 9, Flaagan 3 0-0 7, Odegaard 1 0-0 2; Totals 27 5-13 64, Three point goals: Salzwedel 2, Dobmeier, Hannaher, Flaagan

Grafton: Robideaux 7 3-8 19, Keeley 2 2-2 7, Ladenberg 1 2-2 5, S. Mondry 0 2-6 2, J. Mondry 2 3-3 7, Budack 3 2-3 10; Totals: 15 14-24 50, Three point goals: Robideaux 2, Budack 2, Keeley, Ladenberg

Fouled out: Keeley; Total Fouls: South 18, Grafton 13; Rebounds: South 29(Trautwein 10), Grafton na; Turnovers: South 15, Grafton na; Assists: South 18(Kruckenberg 5), Grafton na; Steals: South 7(Trautwein 3) JV game: South 42 - Grafton 30; Soph game: South over Moorhead

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