Lakers Season Ends in Prairie Farm

The Laker girls basketball season came to a close Tuesday night in Prairie Farm as the Panthers had three girls in double figures on their way to a 75-32 win in opening round tournament action. The Lakers entered the contest as a 15-seed while the Panthers were a 2-seed.
Avery Hansen and Sydney Junkans had two baskets apiece as the Panthers opened the game up with a 11-1 run, forcing the Lakers into a timeout at the 13:57 mark.
The Laker struggles continued following the timeout as the Panthers’ aggressive defense caused a number of easy baskets on the offensive end. The Panthers went on an 18-3 run, the lone three pointer from Madison Rose for the Lakers. Taylor Anderson’s basket at the 7:20 mark stopped the Panther run for a moment.
With five-and-a-half minutes to go in the first half the Lakers settled into a bit of a rhythm and traded points with the Panthers. Courtney Tarman had a deuce, Rose knocked down another three and Allison Wagner added a deuce and a pair of freethrows as the Lakers trailed 44-18 at the break.
The Panthers opened the second half with an 8-2 run, Sophia Ellis getting the lone basket for the Lakers. Ellis hit a pair of freethrows to stop the run, and after a Marnie Kahl hoop, MaraJade Stoll connected on her first two of the game.
Following a pair of freethrows from the Panthers, Stoll hit her second hoop of the game. The Panthers responded with a deuce and a three-point play from Makaylin Christenson and a basket and one of two tosses by Eryn Bates. Anderson’s two stopped the Panther momentum for a moment before they went on a 7-2 run and increased their lead to 71-30 at the 5:39 mark. It was cruise control from there on out as Prairie Farm coasted to a 75-32 opening round win, ending the Laker season.
Allison Wagner and Madison Rose led the Lakers with 6 each. MaraJade Stoll added 5.
Scoring honors went to Prairie Farm’s Eryn Bates who had 21 points for the game. Makaylin Christenson had 18 and Avery Hansen 14.
The Panthers move on to meet #10 Greenwood, who knocked off #7 Flambeau 67-55, in a Friday, February 28 matchup. The winner of that contest will meet the winner of the #3 Loyal vs the #6 Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran contest.