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.”
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