BGMR’S HANSON SCORES 7 STRAIGHT IN FINAL 2 MINUTES TO WIN SECTION 8A TITLE

The Badger/Greenbush-Middle River Gators senior post-player Kinsley Hanson scored seven straight points in the final two minutes of the game to lead her team to a 53-50 victory over the Fosston Greyhounds in the Section 8A Championship at Ralph Englestad Arena in Thief River Falls.

FIRST HALF –
BGMR had a great start to the game while scoring the first six points of the game. Kinsley Hanson scored the first points on a layup, followed by a layup from Tessany Blazek for a 4-0 lead.  Blazek followed with two free throws on the next possession, and the Gators had a 6-0 two minutes into the game, thanks in part to stellar defense.  Fosston finally got on the board when Brynley Mahlen made a three-pointer before BGMR’s Jade Reese scored in the paint.  Less than 20 seconds later, Brynley Mahlen buried another three-pointer, and Fosston was within an 8-6 deficit with 14:27 left in the half.
BGMR seemed to have an answer for every Fosston mini-run, and that was the case as Kezie Dahl made a free throw and Hanson added a basket for an 11-6 lead.  BGMR led 13-9 when Reese and Hanson scored back-to-back baskets for a 17-9 lead with 7:40 left in the half.
Fosston seemed to settle in on the offensive end of the floor and went on a 5-0 run with a free throw from Calli Barrack, two Katelyn Vesledahl free throws, and a basket from Lexi Mahlen to get within a 17-14 deficit with five minutes remaining in the half.
BGMR outscored Fosston 6-4 the rest of the half and took a 23-18 lead into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
BGMR started the second half with a Kenzie Dahl basket, only to have Fosston respond with back-to-back three-pointers from Brynlea Mahlen and Teagan Duppong followed by a Brynlea Mahlen three-point play for a 27-25 lead.  After a BGMR free throw, Mahlen followed with another three-pointer to cap a Greyhound 12-1 run for a 30-26 lead.  BGMR’s Reese stopped the run with a basket only to have Fosston’s Duppong bury a three-pointer for a 33-28 lead for the largest Greyhound lead of the game.  BGMR responded with a Kenzie Dahl three-pointer to get within a 33-31 deficit five minutes into the half. Fosston expanded their lead with two free throws from Brynlea Mahlen and a three-pointer from Duppong for a 38-31 lead.  BGMR’s Kenzie Dahl answered with a big three-pointer to get within a 38-34 deficit halfway through the half.
After four minutes of play, Fosston had a 44-39 lead, and both teams were in the bonus for the final five minutes of the game. Fosston’s Vesledahl scored to give the Greyhounds a 46-39 lead.  BGMR answered with a 7-0 run with a Cassidy Dahl three-pointer, her first points of the game, followed by four straight points from Kenzie Dahl to tie the game at 46-46 with 2:28 remaining.
Fosston stopped the run with a Vesledahl basket for a 48-46 lead, only to have the Gators Hanson tie the game with a nice left-hand shot in the paint.  Fosston had a chance to retake the lead but missed the front end of the bonus.  BGMR had a shot blocked, and the loose ball fell into the hands of Hanson, who made the basket with 1:16 remaining.  Fosston missed two shots in the paint, and BGMR’s Hanson grabbed the rebound and was fouled.  She made one of two free throws for a 51-48 lead with 21.1 seconds left.  Fosston missed two shots in the paint, and Hanson grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 8.5 seconds left in the game.  Hanson made both free throws for her seventh point in a row over a two-minute span, and the Gators led 53-48.  Fosston scored at the buzzer, and Badger/Greenbush-Middle River Gators won the game 53-50.

BGMR improves to 26-3 on the year and will play in the Minnesota State Class A tournament on Thursday, March 16, at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis.  Fosston’s season comes to an end at 24-4 on the year.

FOR BGMR COACH BRAD DAHL’S POST-GAME COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW-

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