By Pat Garry, Staff Writer
The Lady Cubs suffered the “road blues” last week, losing to Maple Lake, 46-27, Tuesday, Feb. 4, then dropping an overtime heartbreaker to Paynesville, 46-40, Thursday.
Maple Lake game
The Cubs jumped out early, 3-2, on a lay-up by freshman Ellie Kuechle; and another bucket put the Cubs up 5-4. The Irish went on a 9-0 scoring run, which was halted when junior Madison Streit hit a free-throw to cut the Maple Lake lead to 13-6. Freshman Hallie Arnold scored next to keep it close at 15-8, but alas, Maple Lake scored the next 13 points. Freshman Olivia Mortenson knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer, and Kimball trailed, 28-11, at the half. In the second half, the Cubs failed to make any significant cuts into the Irish lead. Kimball was without their starting point guard, Madelyn Hunt, for the entire contest, and Ellie Kuechle was nursing an injured ankle. Arnold struggled to score 6 more second-half points and Cailyn Kuechle chipped in
7 points in the final stanza, but in the final analysis, the home-towners prevailed over a hobbled Cubs’ squad.
Kimball stats
Hallie Arnold, 8 pts, 5 rebounds, 3 steals; Cailyn Kuechle, 8 pts,
5 rebounds, 4 assists; Olivia Mortenson, 5 pts, 6 rebounds, 4 steals; Ellie Kuechle, 4 pts,
2 steals; Madison Schmitz, 1 pt,
4 rebounds; Madison Streit, 1 pt,
2 steals.
Paynesville game
Kimball trailed early, but conversions by senior Cailyn Kuechle kept the game close at 9-6, in favor of the Bulldogs, seven minutes in. Consecutive baskets by freshman Hallie Arnold and sophomore Madison Schmitz; followed by a three-pointer from freshman Ellie Kuechle, ultimately tied the game at 16, with 5:28 to play in the first half. Kimball took a 23-21 lead into halftime, on a bucket by Cailyn Kuechle, with 25 seconds before the respite. In the second half, the lead see-sawed back-and-forth, with Ellie Kuechle scoring the first five points of the half, and giving the Cubs a 28-25 lead. But, ever the aggressors, the Paynesville kids cashed in some treys to jump back in front. The Cubs’ defense was sharp and allowed just 17 second-half points, but the offense missed on some opportunities to take control of the game. Paynesville was up, 38-35, when freshman Olivia Mortenson drained a clutch three-pointer with 41 seconds remaining, tying the game at 38 and sending it into overtime. However, in the extra frame, Mortenson managed the only basket for the Cubs, and Paynesville secured the victory.
Kimball stats
Ellie Kuechle, 16 pts,
4 assists; Cailyn Kuechle, 11 pts,
7 rebounds; Olivia Mortenson,
9 pts, 4 rebounds; Madison Schmitz, 2 pts, 5 rebounds; Madison Streit, 2 steals, 2 rebounds.