sports

FOSSTON GIRLS BASKETBALL BEATS KCC TO ADVANCE TO STATE

March 8, 2024

The Kittson County Central Bearcats take on the Fosston Greyhounds in the Section 8A Girls Basketball Championship game at 7:00 PM tonight at the Ralph Englestad Arena.

FIRST HALF –
Fosston started the game by playing outstanding defense, and they also made their first four baskets to build an 8-2 lead with four points from Tessa Manecke and a basket apiece from Vanessa Johnson and Calli Barack. KCC’s White, who scored the first Bearcat basket, added two free throws to get within an 8-4 deficit. Fosston responded with a 17-4 run over the next eight minutes to take a 25-8 lead with 6:28 left in the half. In the Fosston run, five players scored with Vanessa Johnson leading the way with six points.
Kittson County Central ended the final six minutes of the half on a 17-7 run after they picked up the defensive pressure, forcing Fosston into turnovers, and the Bearcats also started making some of their shots. In the run, Kaydence White led the way with nine points, while Morgan Turn, Afton Lindgren, and McKinley Folland added two points apiece to get within a 32-25 deficit going into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
Fosston’s Tessa Manecke made one free throw to start the second half scoring, only to have KCC respond with a Folland three-point play and a Turn three-pointer to get within a 33-31 deficit. After a Fosston basket, KCC answered with an 8-0 run with four points from Greta Kuznia, two free throws from White, and a basket from Turn for a 39-35 lead. Fosston answered in a big way with back-to-back three-pointers from Lexi Mahlen and Miley Hove. The run continued with a basket from Hove and another basket by Lexi Mahlen, and the Greyhounds had a 45-39 lead with 10:38 remaining in the game. KCC’s White made two free throws before Fosston made three free throws for a 48-41 lead. KCC battled back to get within a 50-46 deficit after two Kuznia free throws with 7:37 left in the half. Fosston took over the game for the next four minutes as they went on a 12-2 run behind four points from Tessa Manecke, three points from Brynlea Mahlen, a basket each from Lexi Mahlen and Calli Barrack, and a free throw by Johnson for a 62-48 lead with three minutes to go in the game. KCC battled back with a basket from White and six points from Turn to get within a 62-56 deficit. Fosston held the rest of the way as they made their free throws in the final two minutes and won the game 67-59 to advance to the state tournament.

Fosston improves to 29-2 on the year and will advance to their seventh state tournament in program history. Fosston also made state appearances in 1994. They were State Champions in 2000, 20001, and 2003, and in 2005 they were state runner-ups, and also made an appearance in 2006. KCC ends their fantastic season with a record of 24-5, and they will say goodbye to one senior, Ellen Hilman.