BASKETBALL: Yost scores 23 but Bemidji falls to Grand Rapids 55-50

GRAND RAPIDS – The Bemidji High School girls basketball team played its best game of the season Thursday at Grand Rapids. The Lumberjacks played with more intensity and fought back despite falling behind by 14 points in the second half.

Still, the Lumberjacks’ comeback wasn’t quite enough and the Thunderhawks won 55-50.

The Lumberjacks (0-3) led 28-23 at halftime. But a large run by the Thunderhawks (3-1) turned a five-point lead into a 14-point deficit.

“We had an eight-minute stretch where we went from being up by two to being down by 14,” BHS head coach Rick Kehoe said.

The Jacks trailed 55-41 at in the second half before a furious 9-0 run late in the frame cut the Thunderhawks’ lead to just five, 55-41.

But by then it was too late and the Lumberjacks ran out of time.

“We had much better intensity to end the game today,” Kehoe said. “In the second half, we didn’t shoot very well. But the girls did a good job getting back into the game.”

Jess Yost led the way for the Lumberjacks, scoring 23 points and notching a double-double with more than 10 rebounds.

Jessa Lusby was the other Lumberjack in double figures with 10 points.

For Grand Rapids, Kenzie Kane led the way with 13 points while Taylor Kane added 12.

The Lumberjacks return to action Tuesday, when they’ll host Hibbing at 7:30 p.m.

Bemidji (50) – Lusby 4 0-0 10; Greendahl 1 0-1 2; Olson 0 2-2 2; Yost 11 1-1 23; Gronhovd 2 4-6 9; Steever 1 2-2 4. Totals 19 9-12 50.

Grand Rapids (55) – K.Kane 4 3-3 13; Gibbons 3 0-0 6; Sheppard 2 1-1 5; Olson 3 1-2 7; Guertin 1 0-0 2; T.Kane 5 0-0 12; Anderson 3 0-0 6; Lopac 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 5-6 55.

3-point goals – Bemidji 3, Grand Rapids 4.

Halftime Score – Bemidji 28, Grand Rapids 23.