GIRLS BASKETBALL: Unproductive stretches prove costly to Bemidji in loss to Crosby-Ironton

BEMIDJI – Slow starts have been the custom this winter for the Bemidji girls basketball team but Friday at the BHS gym the Lumberjacks bolted to a 12-4 lead over Crosby-Ironton.

Unfortunately, the Rangers responded with a 13-1 run to take a 17-13 advantage and went on to defeat Bemidji 50-44.

“We started strong but, again, we had stretches where we didn’t see the floor, turned the ball over and missed the open shots,” said BHS coach Rick Kehoe. “There were times when we didn’t get the ball to the open player. We also had too many turnovers and many of them came at the most inopportune times.”

Bemidji constructed its 12-4 advantage with the aid of a 7-0 spurt to open the game. Jessa Lusby set the tone with a 3-pointer from the top of the circle and Kelsey Olson followed with a successful drive following an offensive rebound.

Jess Yost capped the early spurt with a put-back bucket and four minutes into the contest the Jacks were on top 7-0.

Dani Gronhovd added to the team’s early success when the senior converted three free throws and an inside bucket to give the Jacks their 12-4 lead.

But during the next four minutes Bemidji managed only one point and that dry spell enabled the Rangers to forge ahead and own a 27-24 lead at the break.

Lusby opened the final stanza with a basket from the side to trim Bemidji’s deficit to 27-26 but the visitors responded with an 11-0 run to widen the gap to 38-26. And the Jacks never drew within six points the rest of the way.

Lusby paced Bemidji’s offense with 13 points while Yost added eight.

The Lumberjacks (2-13) return to action Tuesday when they host Fargo South.

Crosby-Ironton (50): Peterson 0 1-2, 1; Bonsante 8, 4-6, 22; Schmidt 2, 1-1, 6; Silgen 4, 4-4, 12; Lundgren 2, 1-2, 5; Gindorff 1, 2-2, 4. Totals: 17, 13-17. 50

Bemidji (44): Lusby 4, 2-2, 13; Myhra 0, 0-0, 0; Greendahl 2, 1-2, 5; Olson 1, 5-6, 7; Yost 4, 0-0, 8; Gronhovd 1, 3-4, 5; Palmer 2, 2-2, 6; Steever 0, 0-0, 0. Totals: 14, 13-16, 44

Fouls: Crosby-Ironton 16, Bemidji 15

3-point FG: Crosby-Ironton 3, Bemidji 3 (Lusby 3)

Halftime: Crosby-Ironton 27, Bemidji 24