WILLMAR -- The Bemidji High School girls basketball team fell into a big first-half deficit on Saturday, ultimately leading to a 74-61 road loss to Willmar.
The Lumberjacks (2-5) faced a 39-20 hole after a strong first half from the Cardinals (6-0), who were led by eight points apiece from Hannah Johnson and Mackenzie Jones by the break.
After halftime, Katie Alto led BHS with eight, while Kennedy Mills and Macy Flatness added seven each. The offensive uptick allowed Bemidji to outscore Willmar 41-35 in the second half, but the Cardinals still came away with the double-digit win in the 74-61 final.
Mills finished with a team-high 12 on the night, while Alto reached 10 and Ryssa Whelan nine. For Willmar, Johnson poured in 15 to go along with 11 from Carly Wedel and 10 from Madison Linbo.
The Jacks will return to the hardwood at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, to host Detroit Lakes at the BHS Gymnasium.
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Willmar 74, Bemidji 61
BHS 20 41 -- 61
WHS 39 35 -- 74
Bemidji scorers: Mills 12, Alto 10, Whelan 9, M. Flatness 7, Nicklason 6, Beard 5, Wade 5, Hildenbrand 4, Edlund 3.
Willmar scorers: Johnson 15, Wedel 11, Linbo 10, Swoboda 9, Jones 8, Berskow 7, Hovland 7, Murphy 7, Raitz 2.
