by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Thief River Falls girls basketball team is off to a 2-1 start after posting opening-week wins over Ada-Borup-West and Crookston and the lone loss coming at the hands of defending state runner-up Fergus Falls.
The Prowlers needed overtime but took care of business with a 59-51 win over Ada-Borup-West in the season-opener Tuesday (Nov. 29) in Ada. Four Prowlers finished in double figures led by a 22-point night from sophomore Ava Waldal. Senior Kendal Rantanen and sophomore Josie Peterson scored 11 points each, and senior Maren Espe scored 10 points.
The Prowlers were unbeaten for exactly one game a year ago. They suffered a 74-32 loss to the Otters in game two and fell 58-34 to a Crookston team that won 23 games and reached the section semifinals.
The Otters were responsible for the Prowlers’ first loss again this year with a 66-55 win at Lincoln High School Thursday night. The Prowlers went toe-to-toe for much of Thursday’s contest.
The Otters used an 8-0 run in the middle of the first half to go in front 15-5 and they maintained that lead for the duration of the game. While the Prowlers weren’t able to cut into the Otters’ lead, they were able to match the defending section champ’s second half scoring output.
Waldal, 19, and Peterson, 10, were the only Prowlers in double figures.
The Prowlers may have saved their best performance of the week for last with a 54-50 win over Crookston Friday night. The four-point win over the Pirates is the first since Feb. 8, 2018 for the Prowler girls and it snaps an eight-game losing streak in the series to the Pirates.
“I thought our defense did a good job containing Halie Winjum,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Paula Praska. “It also forced a few quick shots for Crookston, so that worked to our advantage.”
Winjum scored 25 points to lead the Pirates and Abby Borowicz added 10 points. The Prowlers had big nights from Waldal, 20, Espe, 12 and Myers, nine points.
Friday night’s game gave the Prowlers their first opportunity to play with a shot clock.
“We took care of the ball pretty well and handled a shot clock okay for it being the first time using them,” Praska said. “We shot a little better than Thursday night but still need to work on finishing and not rushing our shots.”
This year, a 35-second shot clock may be used in non-conference games if both schools agree, and teams and officials are notified at least one week prior to the game. A 35-second shot clock may be used during all conference contests if all schools have the capability to use a shot clock. Shot clocks will be mandated in the 2023-24 season.
Scoring
1 2 T
Thief River Falls 21 38 59
Ada-Borup-West 19 32 51
Ada-Borup-West – Morgan Smart 10, Sarah Prodzinski 9, Izabel Marcussen 10, Morgan Engel 1, Alex Tinjum 10, Malayna Syverson 2, Dyllan Miller 7, Brielle Engelstad 2.
TRF – Sophie Kramer 2, Kendra Mehrkens 1, Maren Espe 10, Kendal Rantanen 11, Avah Waldal 22, Josie Peterson 11, Breanna Myers 2.
Scoring
1 2 T
Fergus Falls 36 30 66
Thief River Falls 26 29 55
Fergus Falls – Julia Hajicek 2, Madi Budke 2, Karley Braeger 12, Bella Anderson 6, Brynn Sternberg 21, Cyntreya Lockett 16, Karyssa Eberle 7.
TRF – Ali Yuska 5, Maren Espe 5, Kendal Rantanen 8, Avah Waldal 19, Avery Koop 2, Josie Peterson 10, Breanna Myers 6.
Scoring
1 2 T
Thief River Falls 28 26 54
Crookston 34 16 50
TRF – Avah Waldal 20, Maren Espe 12, Breanna Myers 9, Josie Peterson 8, Kendal Rantanen 5.
Crookston – Halle Winjum 25, Abby Borowicz 10, Isabelle Smith 6, Libby Salentine 4, Joey Nesseth 3, Emma Gunderson 3.
Section 8AA W/L, QRF
Pelican Rapids 2-0 0.0
Hawley 2-0 0.0
Perham 2-0 0.0
Wadena-Deer Cr 2-0 0.0
Fergus Falls 1-0 0.0
Park Rapids Area 1-0 0.0
Thief River Falls 2-1 0.0
East Grand Forks 2-1 0.0
Roseau 2-1 0.0
DGF 1-1 0.0
Frazee 1-1 0.0
Warroad 1-2 0.0
Barnesville 0-0 0.0
Crookston 0-1 0.0
Menahga 0-1 0.0
Red Lake 0-2 0.0