CLASS A SEMIFINALS: No. 4 Vikings fall to No. 1 Lyle-Pacelli in semifinals

LOCAL SPORTS
MAR 17, 2018

TRAVIS ROSENAU

MINNEAPOLIS – Minneota had a tall task ahead of them heading into Friday’s State Girls’ Basketball Class A semifinal game going up against No. 1-seeded Lyle-Pacelli.

And despite a back-and-forth game for the most part, a 9-0 run in the second half was enough for Lyle-Pacelli (30-1) to create seperation from Minneota (25-5) and pull away with a 53-41 win.

With the win, Lyle-Pacelli advances to the Class A championship game at noon on Saturday at Target Center, while Minneota drops to the third-place game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Concordia University.

Minneota was led by Abby Hennen with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Minneota jumped out to an early 8-2 lead after being led by 6 points from Abby Hennen. The lead didn’t last long, however, as the Athletics went on a 7-0 run to take the lead.

The Vikings and Athletics traded buckets after that, with neither team able to grow their lead to more than 2 for the remainder of the first half. The Athletics led 22-21 at the break.

Normally one to lead the Vikings on offense and the boards, Lydia Sussner had a tough time getting her shot to fall in the first half. That was mainly due to her being guarded by 6-5 Lyle-Pacelli center Kristi Fett.

Sussner was 1 for 7 shooting with just one rebound in the first half. Fett shot 2 of 7 from the floor in the first half for the Athletics but had 5 points and five rebounds.

Things got a little better for Sussner, though, as she scored the first 6 points of the second half for Minneota. She ended her day with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Fett led the way for Lyle-Pacelli with a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double.

The Athletics took a 31-27 lead with 12:58 left to play on a 3 by Olivia Christianson, but Christianson picked up her fourth foul of the game shortly after and was forced to sit as a result. She fouled out with 4:16 remaining with 13 points and five rebounds.

Morgan Hennen knocked down a 3 with 11:43 left in the game to bring the Vikings back within 1, 31-30. The Athletics amped up their pressure after the Minneota 3, though, and went on a 9-0 run to lead 40-30 with a little more than seven minutes left.

Minneota was never able to get closer than 6 after the run by the Athletics.

Morgan Hennen fouled out with 6:19 to play and finished her day with 5 points and six rebounds, while Lizzy Gillingham added 7 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings.

Minneota shot 23.7 percent from the floor, while Lyle-Pacelli finished shooting 41.5 percent.

Minneota 21 20 – 41

Lyle-Pacelli 22 31 – 53

Scoring: Minneota 14-59, 23.7 percent (A. Hennen 5-15, 4-4 15; Sussner 4-17, 3-4 11; Gillingham 3-9, 1-2 7; M. Hennen 1-7, 2-2 5; Kockelman 1-10, 0-0 3).

3-Pointers: Minneota 3-17, 17.6 percent (Kockelman, M. Hennen, A. Hennen).

Rebounds: Minneota 38 (A. Hennen, Gillingham 8; Sussner 7).

Assists: Minneota 8 (Sussner 3; A. Hennen, M. Hennen 2).

Steals: Minneota 8 (A. Hennen 3; M. Hennen, Sussner 2).

Blocks: Minneota 4 (Sussner 3; A. Hennen 1).

Fouls: Minneota 16.

Turnovers: Minneota 9.