The Hills-Beaver Creek girls’ basketball team and Southwest Minnesota Christian have squared off in the section tournament four straight years.
The Eagles have won all four of those matchups, with the previous three meetings being in the section semifinals.
Those two teams met again in the section semifinals on Monday, March 22, in Edgerton. Once again the Eagles had the Patriots’ number, with the home team picking up a 61-54 victory to advance to the section championship.
H-BC senior Abby Knobloch scored the first four points of the game for the Patriots to help them get out to a 4-2 lead.
The Eagles then went on a 6-0 run to take an 8-4 lead.
The Patriots responded by scoring the next five points of the game to take a 9-8 lead. Unfortunately for the Patriots, that would be their last lead of the game.
The home team went on an 18-0 run to build a 26-9 lead.
Taryn Rauk scored a bucket to end H-BC’s drought and cut the Eagles’ lead to 26-11. The next time down the court Kenadie Fick knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead t0 14.
At the half Southwest Minnesota Christian led 32-17.
The Patriots showed their grit by opening the second half on a 13-3 run to cut the Eagles’ lead to 36-30.
With the Patriots trailing 43-33, Rauk knocked down a three-pointer to get the lead back down to single digits.
A Fick three-pointer trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 55-48.
In the end, H-BC’s comeback bid fell short, as they lost to the Eagles 61-54.
H-BC 57, MCC 39
The Patriots opened the section tournament in Hills on Tuesday, March 16, with a 57-29 victory over Murray County Central.
The Patriots outscored the Rebels 29-17 in the first half. That 12-point first-half lead held as the Patriots outscored MCC 28-22 in the second half.
Rauk led the Patriots with 20 points.
Knobloch finished with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Sam Moser chipped in with eight points. Moser also recorded four steals.
H-BC 61, RRC 44
The Patriots split the regular-season series against Red Rock Central, with the Patriots winning in Lamberton 45-42 and the Falcons winning in Hills 60-57.
The two Red Rock Conference foes looked like they were in for another nail-biting finish, with the Patriots clinging to a 25-24 first-half lead in the section quarterfinals on Friday, March 19.
There would be no close finish in this contest, as the Patriots outscored the Falcons 36-20 in the second half to pick up the 61-44 victory.
Rauk finished the game with 24 points.
Knobloch scored 16 points, dished out eight assists, and recorded five steals.
Fick scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
The Patriots finished the season with a 16-5 record and for the fourth straight year reached the section semifinals.
H-BC 17 37 54
SWMNC 32 28 61
Scoring: Fick 15; Knobloch 12; Rauk 11; Moser 9; LaRock 5
Rebounds: Knobloch 9; Fick 7; Rauk 6; Bos 6
Assists: Knobloch 5
H-BC 29 28 59
MCC 17 22 39
Scoring: Rauk 20; Knobloch 12; Moser 8; Fick 7; Deelstra 7
Rebounds: Knobloch 5
Assists: Knobloch 4; LaRock 4
Steals: Knobloch 4; Moser 4; Fick 4; Deelstra 3
H-BC 25 36 61
RRC 24 20 44
Scoring: Rauk 24; Knobloch 16; Fick 13; LaRock 6
Rebounds: Fick 9; Bos 5; LaRock 5
Assists: Knobloch 8; Elbers 4
Steals: Knobloch 5; Rauk 3