Inside game, depth propels CHS girls past Thunder, 55-43

The M-P-B Thunder got the initial push out of the blocks, but the Carrington girls' basketball team took control in the homestretch.

Fueled by the Thunder's foul trouble, the Cards walked the free-throw path to victory in the East Gym, 55-43, behind an 18-for-28 (64.3 percent) effort behind the stripe.

Center Sydnie Grager had 13 of those attempts, cashing in on eight, and led CHS with 18 points in the team's 10th win of the season.

"Both teams went through some foul trouble," said Cardinal Head Coach Andy Braaten, "but we were able to get some separation in the third quarter and did a good job defensively in the second half to pull it out."

In the opening quarter, it was a two-girl show for the Thunder. Senior forward Ryleigh Martin established herself in the paint, scoring eight points, and Lilly Bohl had the other six M-P-B points.

Bohl kept up her sizzling shooting hand in the second quarter with seven more points, including her second three-pointer of the game, and M-P-B maintained a 27-24 cushion into the locker room.

Trouble was looming for the Thunder in the second, though. Martin picked up her third foul in the quarter, and the team's other forward, Abigail Reich, also was in danger of fouling out.

That opened things up for Grager in the third quarter with the sudden size disparity. She would hit three field goals in the period, and went 3-for-5 at the line to help the Cards take the lead for good at the end of the period, 41-34.

"Sydnie posted up, and the girls found her," Braaten said.

Martin had the Thunder offense's only buckets in that quarter, one in which they were held to seven points.

In the final eight minutes, the Cards outscored the Thunder, 14-9.

Braaten singled out the play of sophomore guard Madison Johnson, who finished with 11 points.

"She sparked us offensively in that first half, and was solid on defense throughout the night."

The Carrington freshman starters were also an integral part of the win. Isabel Wendel had 10 points, while Edyn Hoornaert finished with nine points and rebounds, six assists and two steals.

M-P-B fell to 11-6 with the loss, and Martin led the Thunder with 18 points before fouling out in the final minutes. Bohl was close behind with 13.

Nondistrict Girls' Basketball

Carrington 55, M-P-B 43

at Carrington

M-P-B 14 13 7 9 43

Cgtn. 11 13 17 14 55

Carrington: Sydnie Grager 18, Madison Johnson 11, Isabel Wendel 10, Edyn Hoornaert 9, Emma Rindy 5, Haley Wolsky 2. Totals: 17 FG, 18-28 FT, 15 fouls. Three-pointers: Johnson 3. Fouled out: Wolsky.

M-P-B: Ryleigh Martin 18, Lilly Bohl 13, Maddie Gefroh 5, Allison Thomas 5, Isabel Schmidt 2. Totals: 16 FG, 9-14 FT, 19 fouls. Three-pointers: Bohl 2. Fouled out: Martin, Abigail Reich.

Carrington Individual Stats

Rebounds: Hoornaert 9, Grager, Johnson, Rindy and Wendel 3, Wolsky 1.

Assists: Hoornaert 6, Rindy 3, Wendel 2, Grager, Johnson, Kacie Rexin and Wolsky 1.

Steals: Hoornaert and Rindy 2, Grager, Johnson, Rexin and Wolsky 1.