Welcome home, Sauk Centre Mainstreeters!

**More updates coming on Sunday morning!

Streeters lead at half

Sauk Centre leads 22-17 at the half in the state title game against Providence Academy. Providence has had trouble penetrating Sauk's defense. Macy Weller has nine points and Kali Peschel has six points and Ashley Gruber four. Jena Klaphake hit a big three-pointer and has three pointers.

Update on Saturday night: the Mainstreeters lost 46-40 to the Lions. It was a close battle to the very end.

More to follow on Sunday.

Streters win, advance to title game!

Kali Peschel had to fight back tears after she came out of the game Friday night. It wasn’t because she had played her final high school game. It was because she could play one more.

One more.

That’s all the Sauk Centre girls’ basketball players want, is one more.

The Mainstreeters beat New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Friday night 56-39 to advance to Saturday’s Class AA state championship game. They will play the winner of Pequot Lakes and Providence Academy at 2 p.m. at the Target Center.

“It’s amazing, it’s awesome, it’s a dream come true,” said Peschel after she scored 18 points to help lead the Streeters to their first ever state championship game in girls basketball. “It’s a blessing.”

After Macy Weller put Sauk up 2-0, Peschel stole the ball on the other end and finished with a baseline drive for a 4-0 lead. She later sank a three-pointer followed by a Krista Primus three-pointer and the Streeters were off and running with a 10-2 advantage.

But the Panthers had Carlie Wagner, the sensational sophomore who tallied 43 points Wednesday against Braham. It was Jena Klaphake’s job to hold her at bay, and Klaphake did so, shutting her down early.

“Jena did a great job,” said head coach Scott Bergman.

Klaphake knew she would have her hands full.

“We watched her against Braham and none of us really knew who she was but then we heard she scored 43 points,” said the junior point guard. “So I just focused on covering her. It was my job not to let her get the ball and if she did to make her go right because she likes to go to her left.”

Wagner ended up with 21 points, well below her season average of 28.

Meanwhile, the Streeters had no problem making shots on the other end of the court. Ashley Gruber pump faked a Panther defender for a late basket for a 24-12 lead. But the Panthers stormed back and went on an 8-0 run to end the first half. When the buzzer sounded Sauk’s lead shrunk to 24-20.

But Gruber made the first basket to start the half. The senior center finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.

“She is having a great tournament,” said Bergman. "Opponents forget about her on the court, but our girls find her and she makes her shots.”

A couple free throws by Weller and another three-pointer by Peschel increased Sauk’s lead to 31-20. Peschel then made a great play on the other end of the court when she knocked a ball off a Panther player and out of bounds to gain possession. Weller answered with two of her 18 points for a 33-20 lead.

Krista Primus then drained another three-pointer for a 36-20 lead and Sauk never looked back after that. The closest the Panthers got was within 12 points.

Bergman took his starters out with more than two minutes to play as it was evident the Streeters were going to advance to the state finals.

“This is an amazing feeling,” said Weller. “Coming down here we knew we could do it. We were in it to win it.”

And now they are one game closer.

“I am so proud,” said Bergman. “This is great for these girls and this is great for our program. I couldn’t be happier.”

When asked who they would like to play in the finals, the girls didn’t care.

Jena Klaphake said the team just has to keep doing what they have been doing.

“We give it our all knowing there are no guarantees,” she said. “We give it our best and see what happens. Coach Bergman said no girl’s team has ever won a state championship. Now that we have the opportunity, why not us?”

For Peschel, it’s a sweet end to what has been a tough year. Coming off major knee surgery, the University of Iowa recruit missed the team’s first 22 games. Since she has been back they haven’t lost.

“It’s emotional,” she said. “I am so glad to be back. And now that we are here, we want it all.”

SAUK LEADS BY 4 AT HALF!

The Streeters held a 12 point lead late in the first half, but the Panthers went on an 8-0 run late in the half to make it a 24-20 Sauk lead at halftime.

So far Kali Peschel and Carlie Wagner have provided much of the offense. Both have 11 points.

The Streeters have shown good ball movement, but have also had some costly tunrovers. The Panthers, meanwhile, have been whistled several times for traveling. So far the officials are calling a solid, even game.

Game time

Music is thumping, fans are rowdy...its game time. If you are following along......stay tuned. We will update as much as we can. If you are out of the area and want to listen on the radio, go to www.tunein.com and click on 105.5 KDDG FM and join Mark and Joyce Knoblauch as they provide play by play. If you are in Sauk centre, turn on Channel 22.

Go Streeters!

Post-game player interview with Ashley Gruber after last night's game

Coach Bergman interview following the Worthington win last night at Target Center

...and action from the game...

Streeters reach semis with win over Worthington

For the second year in a row, Sauk Centre's girls' basketball team is heading to the Class 2A state tournament 'Final Four' round. For most of the game, the Mainstreeters cruised past the Trojans in a fast-paced, physical contest at Target Center. When the final horn sounded, Sauk Centre held a 65-51 score. Starting with a three-pointer by Krista Primus to go up 3-0, the Mainstreeters eventually built a 23-7 lead with 7:54 remaining in the first half. The Trojans scored in the low post for a 3-2 score, but a 9-0 run followed by the Mainstreeters including back-to-back threes by Macy Weller and Primus and a shot by Liz Ellens. Ellens then found Brianna Von Wahlde for an assist to answer the first field goal by Worthington's star senior forward and leading scorer Mackenzie Gerber. Sauk Centre's 14-4 lead stood past the 10-minute mark. From there, another 9-0 run followed with scoring from Weller and an NBA-three-pointer and a hard drive to the hoop by by Kali Peschel. After they trailed 23-7, Worthington put up an 8-0 run to close the  gap to 23-15. Jena Klaphake answered the call for the Mainstreeters by draining a much-needed three-pointer with 3:30 left to stop the Trojan scoring surge. Each team traded buckets through the final five minutes of the first half up to a 31-22 score at the break. Contributing to Sauk Centre's lead was 43 percent shooting (6-of-14) beyond the arc, a statistic that helped them overcome a 13-10 disparity in turnovers and 1-of-6 shooting at the free throw line. Worthington cut it to eight points two-and-a-half minutes into the second period. Peschel responded with two free throws that started an 8-2 run to make it 43-27 with 13:49 remaining. Sauk Centre's lead stayed at 11 or greater up to the 4:39 mark, when the Trojans cut it to 52-43. Two free throws from Weller followed, starting a 6-0 run that included a jumper by Ashley Gruber and a layup by Weller. A 13-point deficit was the closest Worthington would get over the final three minutes of the game. In the final 90 seconds, a layup by Gruber, two free throws from Klaphake and a free throw by Weller capped the scoring for Sauk Centre. The Bob FM and Gerard's Player of the Game was senior Krista Primus, who shot 4-of-7 from the field, three-of-five beyond the arc and totaled 11 points and six rebounds. Leading scorers for the Mainstreeters were Kali Peschel (14), Ashley Gruber (12), Krista Primus (11) and Macy Weller (13 pts, 12 reb). As a team, they shot 42 percent from the floor. Other noteworthy items: all 12 Mainstreeters on the roster saw action tonight. Sauk Centre improved to 26-4 overall with the win. Paid attendance for the game was 6,428. An incredible 52-35 margin stood out on the statistic sheet in the rebounding department, with Sauk Centre having a huge advantage on the boards tonight. To be certain, the bruising West Central North competitors along with a beefed up non-conference schedule paid dividends for Sauk Centre. **Fan bus information for Friday's semifinal game: Streeter fans are encouraged to sign up for the fan buses sponsored by First State Bank and Minnesota National Bank. Children under 16 years old need to have adult supervision on the bus. The deadline to sign up is 4 p.m. on Thursday. Official boxscore: Peschel, Kali 4-12 4-4 14; Weller, Macy 4-10 4-8 13; Gruber, Ashley 5-12 2-9 12; Primus, Krista 4-7 0-0 11; Klaphake, Jena 2-5 2-2 7; VonWalde, Brianna 3-5 0-2 6; Ellens, Elizabeth 1-2 0-0 2; Gieske, Beth 0-0 0-0 0; Jennissen, Greta 0-0 0-0 0; Moe, Rebecca 0-0 0-0 0; Berscheit, Lexie 0-0 0-0 0; Gamradt, Jordan 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 23-55 12-27 65.

Photos from tonight's state tournament win!

Jordan Gamradt fighting for a loose ball.

Final score from Target Center tonight: Sauk Centre 65, Worthington 51. The Streeters are State-Semifinal bound for the 2nd year in a row! TV time to boot! They tip off on Friday night at 6 p.m. at Target Center against undefeated New Richland-H-E-G.

Click on the following link to read a game recap from tonight at the Sauk Centre Herald website and learn more on NR-H-E-G:
http://saukherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=358&ArticleID=13916

Sauk Centre holds double-digit lead midway through 2nd half

At the state tournament opener, the Mainstreeters girls' basketball team holds a 49-36 lead with 8:22 remaining in the game.

With 2:34 remaining, Sauk Centre leads 60-45 over Worthington.

Weller named Times Area Player of the Year

Earlier today Sauk Centre junior Macy Weller was named St. Cloud Times All Area Player of the Year. Congratulations to Macy!

Weller leads the Streeters into tonight's battle with Section 3AA winner Worthington (20-7). Worthington averages 65 points per game and allows 53. They are led by Mackenzie Gerber, who averages 17 points per game. Kristen Anderson averages 10.

Word is that Worthington plays a physical brand of basketball. We will see how physical it gets tonight and whether or not the officials are going to let them play or not.

Sauk averages 57 points per game while allowing 42. Weller is averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds per game. Kali Peschel is averaging 14 points and 5 boards per game. jena Klaphake carries an 8-point average and Krista Primus 7.


Tip off is in 6 minutes!

Braham falls to NRHEG

Top-ranked Brham (29-1) were ousted from the tournament earlier tonight in a 75-45 trouncing by New Richland-Heartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG).

NRHEG sophomore Carlie Wagner netted 43 points for the Panthers, almost outscoring the defending champion Bombers single-handedly.

Braham's Rebekah Dahlman became the state's all-time scoring leader in the second half. She finished with 29 points.

Wagner is averaging 28 points per game.

If the Streeters win tonight they will face NRHEG on Friday.

A high level of Mainstreeters pride will be on display tonight at Target Center

Checking the list of Streeter fans before heading to Minneapolis earlier today.

Go Streeters!

Streeters to face Worthington Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Target Center

The Sauk Centre girls' basketball team (25-4) will play Worthington (20-7) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

If they win Wednesday they will play the winner of Braham (29-1) and New Richland (30-0) at 6 p.m. Friday at the Target Center. Quarterfinal losers go home.

For Class AA brackets, click here: http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/showXMLbrackets.asp?tournid=2643&bracket=5910
We don't know much about Worthington at this point. Word is that they have two very good players and play a very physical brand of basketball.

Sauk is making their third consecutive trip to state. In 2010 they lost in the quarterfinals. Last year they took third place on a buzzer beater by Kali Peschel to beat Providence Academy.

Tickets will be on sale at the school until 4:30 p.m. Monday and from 7:30 to noon on Tuesday. They are available at the activities office located in the junior high school.

First State Bank and Minnesota National Bank have reserved four fan buses for Wednesday's game. The cost is $10 per seat. Those wishing to ride the bus have to sign up ahead of time at First State Bank. The buses will load at 4:15 on Wednesday in the WalMart Parking lot.

GO STREETERS! BRING HOME SOME HARDWARE!!!

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(Herald video) Mainstreeters girls' basketball team accepts section championship trophy