sports

SACRED HEART OUTLASTS W-A-O TO ADVANCE IN SECTION TOURNEY

March 2, 2024

The Sacred Heart Eagles Girls Basketball team defeated the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies in a back-and-forth battle in the Section 8A quarterfinals at the Ralph Englestad Arena.

FIRST HALF –
In the first half, Isabel Vonesh knocked down a three to open the game and give Sacred Heart an opening 3-0 lead. Hannah Peterson answered with a triple to tie the game. Macey Boe hit a basket inside for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo to give the Ponies a 7-3 lead. Later in the half, Vonesh hit her third three of the half to make it 12-11 with the Ponies still leading. Leah Sundby connected from three-point range to give Sacred Heart a 14-12 lead. Later in the half, Boe again got a basket underneath to cut into Sacred Heart’s lead of 24-18. Hannah Peterson used a euro step move to get around her defender and score to make it 26-20 as Sacred Heart still led. Peterson hit a corner three to cut Sacred Heart’s lead down to one as the first-half horn sounded. Sacred Heart led 28-27 at the half.

SECOND HALF –
In the second half, Sacred Heart’s Lexi Lawrence, who had three first half fouls got the half started with a basket down low to make it 30-27. Reegan Mortimer hit her first basket of the afternoon, which was a three for the Ponies that tied the game at 32. Boe connected from downtown for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo to make it 35-32 with the Ponies in the lead. Lawrence used a strong post move to muscle through a couple of defenders to get her short shot to fall and made it 39-38 with Warren-Alvarado-Oslo leading. Finley Horken drove to the basket, drew contact, got her shot to fall, and made the foul shot to put Sacred Heart up 41-39. Mortimer later sunk another three for the Ponies as she tied the game at 42 apiece. Mortimer hit her third three of the half to put Warren-Alvarado-Oslo up 45-42. Later in the half, Horken hit a three for the Eagles as she gave Sacred Heart a 49-46 lead. Lydia Riskey put up a shot in traffic, missed it, got her own rebound, and got her putback to fall as she put Sacred Heart up 53-49. Riskey hit a three out of a timeout for the Eagles that gave them a 56-49 lead with about two minutes to go. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo had to foul late but Sacred Heart conencted from the free throw line and got the 61-52 victory.

Warren-Alvarado-Oslo’s season ends with a 17-12 record. They have one senior, Hannah Peterson. Sacred Heart improves to 24-4 on the year and will take on Kittson County Central in the Section 8A Semifinals on Wednesday on KROX.

Click here for Coach Pierce’s post-game interview.

Click here for Coach Mathison’s post-game interview.