Despite a quick start the Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team was unable to stop the long-range shooting of Blooming Prairie in a 59-46 in Blooming Prairie.

The Knights (10-9 overall, 5-5 Valley Conference) jumped out on the Blooming Prairie (13-2 overall, 8-1 Gopher Conference) squad very quickly with a 7-0 lead.

With things looking up for the Knights early, it was a seven minute scoring drought that gave the Blossoms the chance to get on track  and the score was quickly in Blooming Prairie’s favor 24-11.

“The girls got a bit intimidated in the first half,” said Alden-Conger head coach Gary Newman. “I got on the girls for that and they did not quit.”

At halftime the Knights trailed by 14.

In the second half the Blossoms immediately took over and increased their lead to 23 points with the help of Katelin Strand who knocked down three shots from behind the 3-point arch.

Alden-Conger was able to stay in the game by pushing the ball right at the heart of the Blossoms’ defense and they were able to get to the foul line 27 times, converting 16.

“We didn’t give up,” Newman said. “The girls just hung around and hung around and fought back.”

The Blossoms’ game consisted of more of an outside shooting game and was only at the foul line nine times in the game, making six of their shots.

Next week the Knights play in their conference tourney, beginng Monday.

Blooming Prairie 59, Alden-Conger 46  

Alden-Conger 18 28 — 46

Blooming Prairie 32 27 — 59

 
Blooming Prairie scoring: Kassie Lueth 13, Katelin Strand 11, Marie Morem 10, Resha Koster 9, Erica Manske 6, Lynnae Nelson 5, Ashley Hueman 3, Ashley Campbell 2.

Alden-Conger scoring: Megan Miller 17, Nadean Krueger 13, Krista Mathiason 7, Katie Hallman 5, Kenzie Martin 2, Samantha Mehus 1.