PEM Falls To Rochester Lourdes In Section 1AA Playoffs
The Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs put up a tough fight, especially in the second half, but came up short against the Rochester Lourdes Eagles Monday Night at Mayo Civic Center 61-51.
The Bulldogs were trailing by as much as 17 in the first half but were able to make a run of their own, cutting the lead all the way down to four with just over seven minutes to play. The Eagles then scored five unanswered points after that on a three from Anna Braun and then a bucket from Wynter Bergner to take a 49-40 lead.
Rochester Lourdes then entered stall mode and they executed it almost perfectly. The Bulldogs were forced to extend their defense out and then eventually foul.
Plainview-Elgin-Millville played great in the second half, getting some great looks from Macy Holtz as she attacked the defense, and then when her shot wasn't falling Mikayla Rahman and Hayley Dessner were there to clean up the class and get the putback attempts.
The scoring woes for the Bulldogs in the latter part of the first half deemed the most difficult to overcome, as the Eagles finished the first half on a 19-3 run to push their lead to 37-20 at the break.
Alyssa Ustby was clutch down the stretch from the Eagles, as she broke the full-court pressure put on by PEM and drawing fouled. She then hit at the free throw line, while limiting the second-chance points late in the game by securing rebounds on the defensive end.
It was a great battle and an entertaining basketball game, but the Eagles were able to execute better down the stretch as the Bulldogs got into foul trouble with Holtz and Dessner fouling out.
Holtz was great for the Bulldogs, finishing with 16 points, while Rahman added 11 points and 11 rebounds, Dessner finished with eight points and eight boards. Ustby led the Eagles with 17 points and seven boards, while Josie Hansen added 12 points and Bergner with 16.
The Eagles advance to take on Byron Saturday at 8pm at the Mayo Civic Center, while the Bulldogs season ends with an impressive record of 17-9.
KFIL Subway Player of the Game (Rochester Lourdes) - Alyssa Ustby
KFIL Subway Player of the Game (P-E-M) - Macy Holtz
Kingsley Mercantile Game Ball (P-E-M) - Mikayla Rahman
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