Jackie Wolles
The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal girls basketball team used a big fourth quarter to earn a 61-48 win over the Elkton/Lake Benton Elks on Friday, January 31st, in Lake Benton, MN. The first quarter was back and forth as St Mary took a slight two-point lead at 13-11 after the first quarter. The first few minutes of the second quarter were also back and forth. With 5:30 to go in the half, St Mary held a 19-18 lead. Over the next three minutes, the Cardinals went on an 11-3 run to take a 30-21 lead with 2:20 left in the quarter. However, the Elks finished the half on an 8-0 run to pull within a point at 30-29 at halftime.
The Elks continued the run into the third quarter, scoring the first five points to go ahead 34-30 with 6:00 to go in the third quarter. Elkton/Lake Benton maintained that lead throughout the quarter. The Elks led 41-36 with 2:20 to go in the third, but the Cardinals scored the final four points to pull within a point at 41-40 at at the end of the third quarter. Again the game went back and forth in the first half of the fourth quarter. St Mary led 44-41 after scoring the first four points of the fourth quarter. The Elks tied the game at 45-45 with 4:36 left in the game, and then took a one-point lead a few seconds later on a free throw at 46-45 with 4:30 to go. From that point the Cardinals outscored the Elks 16-2 for the win.
Ally Mullaney led St Mary with 21 points. Kelly Michel added 15 points, and Amber Hansen had 11 points.
The Cardinals improve to 9-5 on the year. St Mary will play Viborg/Hurley at the Tri-Valley Classic in Alcester on Saturday, February 1st.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | ||
| Dell Rapids St Mary | 13 | 17 | 10 | 21 | 61 | |
| Elkton/Lake Benton | 11 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 48 |
Highlights: