Friday, January 19, 2007

Lady Owls Pick Up Hard-Fought 52-49 Win Over Neighboring Rival Benson Braves


From the Lac qui Parle Valley game back in December. Photo by Gregg Cunningham.

Tonight at the Benson High School, the Hancock Lady Owls fought off a late comeback attempt and picked up win number 14 on the season, against one loss. Opening up a big 27-16 lead went a long ways as it was enough to stave off a 15-4 run used by Benson (5-7) to tie the game as the second half unfolded.

The Lady Owls picked up balanced scoring from their starting five, led by Tara Thielke's 15. She was held to only two second-half points but also earned six assists and six steals. Bree Holleman scored 14 points, followed by Jenny Noordmans with 12 (9 rebounds), Chelsea Voorhees with 6, and Stacie Cunningham with 5.

It won't get much easier for the team, as they go on to play Parkers Prairie in a road game next Monday (Jan 22). The Panthers (7-8) are another dangerous team sitting just below .500 on the season. This week they dropped an overtime clash with fellow Little Eight Conference member Battle Lake (9-4). The Battlers sit in second place in the Section 5A-North standings.
What may be their most important non-conference game of the season will be this Thursday (Jan 25) in a road trip to the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School to face the K-M-S Fighting Saints (5-4 Camden, 6-6 overall). The Fighting Saints have won three in a row coming into this week, and have started to mesh as a team while cutting down on turnovers after a dismal 2-5 start to their season. They are averaging 68 points per game in the New Year. The Lady Owls, who are averaging over 66 points per game all season, will face a solid test in this road game that may be the most exciting game in the area this week. The Fighting Saints hope to get top production out of their post players while limiting the Lady Owls' looks from the outside. On paper, the Lady Owls are the favorite going in, but when the high stakes of playoff success is factored in, it could be anyone's game.

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