The Lady Cubs matched up with a very good St. Cloud Cathedral team last Tuesday, Feb. 14, and lost to the Crusaders in a three-overtime thriller, 83-79. Early on, it looked like the Cubs might run away with it as they jumped out to a 20-4 lead. But following a couple of timeouts, Cathedral heated up from beyond the arc, stole the momentum, and cut the Cubs?Äô lead to just one, 32-31, at the break. In the second half the Crusaders picked up where they left off, as they built a 43-35 lead. But Kimball fought back and tied the game at 50 all. The game went back and forth with Kimball holding a 65-63 lead at around the one-minute mark. In the final stretch, Cathedral tied things up at 65 and Kimball?Äôs last shot in regulation came up empty, sending the game to overtime. In the first overtime, the Cubs jumped out to a lead but soon found themselves trailing 70-67.
Kimball?Äôs Ashley Schindele hit a three pointer and knotted things up at 70. Kimball again failed to put away the game with a final shot and overtime number two loomed. The second overtime ended in a 72-72 tie, following a failed last-second shot attempt by Cathedral. The Crusaders closed out the win in the third overtime, nailing a three pointer and converting six consecutive free throws.
?ÄúWhat a game! I know we fought hard and had our chances, but it?Äôs just tough to come out on the losing end of a game like this. These are the types of games we want to be playing as we get closer to playoffs; games against good teams that help us get battle tested,?Äù said Coach Jeremy Kuechle. Cubs?Äô Scoring: Kenzie Leither 9; Madison Hurrle 24; Ashley Schindele 28; Katie Merchant 2; Caitlin O?ÄôBrien 5; Erin O?ÄôBrien 11. St. Cloud Cathedral?Äôs record moves to 18-5 and Kimball drops to 18-4.