GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bemidji stays close, but falls to state-ranked New Richland 58-51

SAINT PETER – The Bemidji girls basketball team stayed competitive the whole game, but New Richland-H-E-G showed exactly why it was No. 2 in Class 2A.

The Panthers’ star point guard Carlie Wagner scored 23 points as New Richland held off Bemidji 58-51 Saturday night in the championship game of the St. Peter Tournament.

“We were right there,” BHS head coach Rick Keohe said. “We were only down two, four points with three minutes to go but we couldn’t quite get it done.”

The Lumberjacks, who notched their first win Friday against hosts St. Peter, came back Saturday and didn’t back down. BHS trailed just 27-24 at the half but a late run by New Richland (8-1) in the second half helped seal the game.

Kehoe said they were able to shut down Wagner for the most part – her 23 points was well below her normal average for the season. But they allowed the Panthers to drain nine 3-pointers.

“We did what we needed to do against Wagner,” Kehoe said. “We just didn’t make enough plays.”

Jess Yost, who was named to the all-tournament team, led Bemidji (1-9) with 16 points. Greta Steever also chipped in 12 for Bemidji.

Dani Gronhovd, who scored six, was also named to the all tournament team.

The Lumberjacks return to the court Friday night when they’ll host Detroit Lakes at 7:30 p.m.

New Richland-H-E-G 58, Bemidji 51

Bemidji (51) – Greendahl 3 0-1 6; Olson 2 2-2 7; Yost 6 4-7 16; Gronhovd 2 1-2 6; Palmer 2 0-0 4; Steever 6 0-0 12. Totals 21 7-12 51.

New Richland-H-E-G (58) – Lundberg 1 1-2 3; M.Wagner 2 0-1 6; C.Wagner 9 4-6 23; Schultz 5 1-2 15; Cole 2 2-4 7; Schue 1 1-2 4. Totals 20 9-17 58.

Halftime score: New Richland-H-E-G 27, Bemidji 24