Mainstreeters girls basketball survives a typically difficult challenge from New London-Spicer, wins at the wire 53-49

Senior forward Emily Petermeier playing some tight defense early in the second half against NL-S tonight.

The Sauk Centre Mainstreeters girls basketball team played a back-and-forth first half with visiting New London-Spicer tonight, going into halftime with a slim 33-30 lead.

It was a West Central North Conference clash between two rivals who have duked it out for a few years now in this league after the West Central Conference was re-aligned a few years back. The game was held in Sauk Centre with a light crowd on hand compared to the past two years.

New London-Spicer really had their defense cranked up for this one. Maren Greenwald's (Sauk Centre senior sharpshooter) three point shot two minutes into the first half broke a 2-2 tie. The Streeters went up 9-4 on a 2/2 performance at the line by sophomore Macy Weller after their press got a steal in the back court.

NL-S then rained from the three-point land three different times, going up 13-12, with Greenwaldt also hitting another three for Sauk Centre. The rest of the first half was a dogfight. NL-S led 15-14, then Sauk went up 17-15. NL-S pulled ahead 19-17 and ultimately 27-22 with 3:02 on the clock after Karsee Knutson (NL-S senior) drained a three ball.

Then in a span of one minute Sauk Centre stormed back with Kali's 2/2 free throws, Macy Weller in the paint after another steal off the press, Shelby Deters (Sauk Centre senior) hit a paint shot with a beautiful feed by Peschel. Game tied at 28-28.

Peschel hit the final two shots of the first half, draining a three pointer with 37 seconds, then sliced through the lane to launch a buzzer beater that fell in off the glass as time expired. Halftime: 33-30 Sauk Centre.

NL-S (3-1) charged in front 34-33 in the first minute and a half out of halftime before the Streeters (3-1) regained the lead at 35-34 and took charge on their way to leads of 39-34 and 47-39. Weller grabbed a steal at the top of the key and ran it in solo for a layup with 6:31 left for the 8-point lead.

Maren Greenwaldt and Emily Petermeier each made two free throws in the final minute to seal the win for the Streeters, who went 8-for-9 at the line in the second half.

With 38 seconds left in the first half, Kali Peschel drained a three pointer to put the Streeters back in the lead at 31-30 tonight.

Kali's gutsy drive in the lane, where she put up a buzzer beater to make it 33-30 at halftime vs. NL-S.


At halftime in Paynesville tonight, the Streeters boys basketball team had built a nice 34-22 lead. Final score from Paynesville: Sauk Centre 72, Paynesville Area 43.

In boys hockey action at Litchfield, the Prairie Centre Area North Stars lost 4-0 to Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato.

~RO