Gopher Girls Comeback Versus Rebels

The last two times Chatfield and Southland’s girls met in basketball, Rebel stand-out McKendry Kennedy was the story.   The (then) junior combined for 49 points, as Southland swept last year’s series (59-36, 62-48).   In the Gophers season opener, they held Kennedy in check, and overcame a double-digit deficit to post a win.  Southland led by as many as 12 in the first half (20-8).  It was 21-14 at intermission.  Chatfield chipped away in the second, getting ten early points from Britney Fretland.  Alanna Goetzinger’s rebound-put-back gave Chatfield a lead 39-37.  After starting the game 0-9 at the free throw stripe, the Gophers hit six of their final eight freebies.  Finishing the game on a 16-5 run, the Chatfield did something in November that they didn’t do last year until January (started 0-12).  They posted their first win, 51-42.  The junior center Goetzinger was the seventh person off the bench, but the top Gopher scorer (13 pts, 7 rebs).  Fretland (12 pts) scored all of her points in the second half.  Macy Pederson (8 pts, 6 rebs) did the same.  Southland’s Kennedy was held to 13 points.