WAO Girls Basketball uses defensive masterclass to take down Bagley in Section 8A quarterfinals

The Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies Girls Basketball team started the game on a 23-0 run and never looked back en route to a 72-23 demolition of the Bagley Flyers in the quarterfinals of the Section 8A Tournament in Thief River Falls on Saturday afternoon.

FIRST HALF
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo used outstanding defense and some good shooting as they jumped out to a 23-0 lead over eight minutes into the game. The Ponies were led by Macey Boe with 12 of the 23 points. Lola Linder scored four. Jorie Miska, Markelle Pederson, and Kenley Marquis added two points each and Annie Peterson added a free throw. The Flyers’ Mazie Hoie made two free throws to get on the board with 10:27 to go to get within a 23-2 deficit. WAO’s Macey Boe drilled a three-pointer and Markelle Peterson made a layup to put the Ponies up 28-2 with eight minutes left in the half.. The Flyers then converted a three-point play, but the Ponies’ defense answered, and the lead became 30-5 with under seven minutes to go. Bagley’s Mazie Hoie scored six points to cut the lead to 30-11, with Hoie scoring the first 11 Flyer points. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo finished the half on a 7-0 run to take a 37-11 lead into the break.

SECOND HALF
The Ponies scored the first six points of the second half as Markelle Pederson scored four points and Kenley Marquis added a basket before Bagley hit two free throws, making it 43-13 with 15 minutes remaining. WAO’s Boe hit another three-pointer and Meila Pierce hit a long two-pointer to put the Ponies up 35. Bagley’s Mazie Hoie made a deep three-pointer and Madi Bye made two free throws to get the Flyers within a 48-18 deficit. WAO’s Boe and Markelle Pederson made baskets. After a Flyer three-pointer, Pierce and Marquis buried three-pointers for a 58-21 lead with 8:07 remaining and running time started. After a Flyer free throw, WAO answered with 17-1 run with four different players scoring and Ponies coasted to a 72-23 victory.

WAO is not 25-3 on the season and will take on Kelliher-Northome in the Section 8A semi-finals at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Ralph Englestad Arena. You can watch the game on KROX TV and listen to it on KROX Radio. Bagley’s season ends with an 8-19 record.