Girls' basketball: New-Richland-H-E-G wins 2A, Minneota takes 1A

Carlie Wagner scored a state tournament record 50 points, all but 10 of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva's output. But it was her defense that secured the Panthers' 60-59 victory over Braham in the Class 2A championship Saturday.

Wagner's tall frame and outstretched arms stopped the Bombers' final possession in the final seconds at midcourt of the Target Center to end a game already being dubbed one of the best in girls' basketball state history.

Just before that, she made a go-ahead free throw that provided the winning margin.

Wagner broke five state records in the game and tied another.

Braham's Rebekah Dahlman, a McDonald's All-American and leading scorer in state girls' basketball history, scored 30 in the second half to nearly rally her team to victory.

"You had two amazing athletes take it to the next level to make their teams successful," NRHEG coach John Schultz said.

Wagner, who has committed to play for the Gophers, made her free throw and 50th point with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Panthers the lead. She missed the second free throw but made sure Braham, which lost Dahlman's services when she fouled out in the last minute, would get nowhere near the basket.

"After I missed that second free throw, I knew that I had to get it done on defense. I couldn't let them get the ball up court," Wagner, a junior guard, said. "I just did what I had to do."

That meant breaking tournament records for most points in a game (50), most tournament points (129), most field-goal attempts in a game (43), most tournament field-goal attempts (110) and most field goals made (48). She also tied the record for most field goals made in a game (21).

Wagner's twin sisters, Maddie and Marnie, scored eight of NRHEG's other 10 points. Paige Overgaard had 12 rebounds.

Dahlman said, "We were this close. If we could just stop Carlie Wagner. She's so good. I didn't want to end my senior year being on the bench. I tried to take over as much as possible."

Dahlman got into foul trouble in the first half and sat on the bench while scoring just two points. She fouled out with 37.4 seconds left in the game, forced to watch as Wagner closed out the game.

Dahlman said she forgot about her four fouls and regrettably grabbed Hannah Lundberg to stop NRHEG's stalling tactic. As soon as the whistle blew, she realized what she had done.

She left the court, tugging fitfully on her jersey, then went to the end of the bench and crouched down, her head bowed in disappointment.

"That changed the game when she left," Wagner said.

Dahlman said she felt like she let her team down, but Kayla Nickles (12 points, eight rebounds) wouldn't let it ruin Braham's night. Nickles stole the ball with 26 seconds left and tied it 59-59 with a layup.

That set up the dramatic finish, with Wagner taking the ball toward the basket when she was fouled.

"It's a team thing. I couldn't have done it without my teammates. I give half the credit to them," Wagner said. "I just wanted to prove something to our fans and our town, that small towns can do it."

JASON GONZALEZ

Minneota 61, Ada-Borup 51

As a free-throw attempt late in Satuday's Class 1A girls' basketball state championship game left her hand, Minneota's Emily Stienessen thought the ball was on the mark.

As it rattled off the rim, teammate Taylor Reiss vowed to make the ball hers.

Reiss's put-back layup became the key play down the stretch as the Vikings defeated Ada-Borup 61-51 for their first-ever state title.

"I wanted that rebound so I went after it," said Reiss, who despite releasing the shot in midair from a reclined position, "felt like it was pretty automatic."

That feeling best describes Reiss's afternoon at Target Center. Reiss, a 5-foot-10 forward, led all scorers with 30 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds. She helped the taller Vikings out-rebound Ada-Borup 40-20 and hold a 20-4 edge in second-chance points such as her put-back.

Cougars coach Dave Smart said, "We get that rebound and we're down three instead of five with about a minute and a half to go. That was definitely a back-breaker."

Ada-Borup built a 29-27 halftime lead, scoring 13 points off Viking turnovers. But Minneota, losers to Ada-Borup in last season's state tournament quarterfinals, took better care of the ball after halftime. The Cougars' adjustments were less successful.

"We said we can't give up this many offensive rebounds and expect to win the game," Smart said. "It definitely came to fruition."
Stienessen said she felt herself go from disappointed to delighted as Reiss "jumped right over both of their girls and put it back up."

Reiss was not finished. Fouled on the next Vikings' possession, she faced her own 1-and-1 and hit both shots.

Reiss and fellow sophomores Stienessen and Payton Boerboom closed out the victory by scoring a combined nine points on free throws.

"I was really proud of our sophomores," junior forward Molly Hennen said. "Last year as a sophomore I was feeling a little nervous in the first round and today was for the state championship."

DAVID LAVAQUE