Photo by Paul Trende
Caledonia girls basketball motto this year has been “reload.” The Warriors, last year’s 1AA runner-up, did just that with a group featuring mostly non-seniors. Scott Sorenson’s gals progressed to the 1AA semis. The #17 in AA Warriors (3-seed, 19-8) fought past Lake City (6-seed, 14-13) in a quarterfinal. The Warriors built a 35-19 lead late in the first half. The Tigers ended the stanza 8-0 to trail 35-27 at intermission. Sophomore Aubrie Klug scored 15 straight Caledonia points (8 of 11 free throws) to help her team pull away in the second half, as the Warriors prevailed 60-39. Lake City had 30-plus turnovers, Caledonia 20-plus. The Warriors got 16 points at the free throw line (16 of 27 > 59%), Lake City 12 (12 of 23 > 52%). Klug (29 pts, 3-8 threes, 10-14 FTs, 5 asts, 4 stls) led the way. Josie Foster (15 pts, 6 stls) also hit double figures. Nicole Banse added 9 (pts) and 4 (stls). Kensey King had 10 rebounds, Regan King 7 steals. Lake City led by Natalie Gates (11 pts). The Warriors (3-seed, 20-8) then faced #16 in AA Rochester-Lourdes (19-9). Caledonia used a 14-3 run late in the first half to lead 31-19 at intermission. The lead grew to 39-23 early in the second half. But Lourdes picked up their hustle, defensively and on the offensive glass, and quickly came back. They went on a 20-4 run to tie the score 43-43 midway through the stanza. It set up a great back-and-forth finish. Caledonia hit six of its final seven shots. Lourdes scored on six of its final seven possessions. Down 57-56, Banse got the hoop and the harm to put the Warriors up 59-57 (0:30.9)! But Lourdes then got an Aaliyah Williams corner three to go back ahead 60-59 (0:21)! Though making shots late, Caledonia ended the game with back-to-back turnovers in the final 20-seconds, the first down 60-59, the second down 61-59. Lourdes prevailed 61-59. Four Warriors made double figures; Foster (15 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts), Klug (14 pts, 4-6 threes, 5 rebs), K-King (12 pt, 6-7 FGs), and Banse (11 pts, 6 rebs). Banse scored all her points after halftime. Lourdes also got four in double figures; Lauren Hust (18 pts, 10 rebs), Lily Davick (14 pts, 10 rebs), Ruby Flies (13 pts), and Williams (12 pts, 5 rebs). After three first half turnovers, Caledonia had 11 in the second half, out-miscuing Lourdes 14 to 9 overall. The Warriors also gave up 15 second half offensive rebounds for 15 second chance points (while grabbing eight for six second-chance-points). Caledonia beat Lourdes in a semifinal last year. A good season for the Warriors ends at 20-8. Caledonia had only one senior, Regan King, play in the contest.
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