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Kenmare downs Glenburn 40-27

Stroklund notches 21-point double-double in consolation win

Ryan Ladika/MDN Kenmare's Brenna Stroklund (21) guards against Nadia Post driving to the paint in the first half.

It was not the game either team wanted to find themselves a part of, but the Glenburn Panthers and Kenmare Honkers still took the court in the first of two consolation semifinal contests held at the Minot State Dome Friday afternoon, grateful for another chance to play.

The Panthers and Honkers were bumped from the state tournament with losses to the Grafton Spoilers and Wilton-Wing Miners, respectively, in the quarterfinals Thursday afternoon. Now on the left side of the bracket, both schools had eyes on advancing to play for fifth place in the state Saturday afternoon.

The game also served as a rematch from the two squads’ previous meeting on Jan. 30, a contest Kenmare snagged by the slimmest of margins, a 48-47 final score on Glenburn’s home court.

“We’ve played Glenburn before and that was a tough game, so we knew we were going to have to hustle and be more aggressive,” sophomore Brenna Stroklund said of her team’s goals entering the day. “We need to pressure the ball. They are good shooters so we need to get out there and be on them and set more picks. Just move the ball well.”

Their strategy worked, as the Honkers would go on to hold the Panthers to a season-low 27 points and just over 24 percent shooting from the field.

Once the game begun, though, Glenburn appeared to put its offensive woes behind them. McKenna Rolland got the Panthers off on the right foot, pulling up from behind the arc and drilling a triple just 11 seconds into the game.

Stroklund responded with a quick two points, and her teammate Megan Zimmer made her two tries from the foul line before DeAnna Heinze finally made a layup on the other end over two minutes after Rolland’s game-opening shot. Brooklyn Rodin fouled Sophie Bachmeier on her attempt with four minutes and 23 seconds remaining, and the freshman guard made one of her two shots from the foul line to put Glenburn ahead 6-4.

Stroklund took the reins of the remainder of the half. She scored four of her team’s final six points of the initial period after Rolland added one more via a make from the line, and all of the Honkers’ nine points in the second quarter.

Lorelei McIver put a short pause on Stroklund’s run after she forced a turnover while blocking a Kenmare pass and made one of two tries from the charity stripe after she was fouled. The Panthers could muster only five more the rest of the half, a second Rolland triple and two more from McIver with eight seconds left. Thanks to their 5’10” center’s dominance, Kenmare entered the locker room ahead 19-13 on the strength of 15 Stroklund points.

Rolland also kicked off the second half’s scoring in rapid fashion, making her two free throw tries after she was fouled by Kate Zimmer 18 seconds in. Nadia Post added a layup soon after, and the Panthers found themselves right back in the game, trailing 19-17.

A two-point shot and an impressive reverse layup on the other end by Stroklund, followed by a deep three-point shot by Mashae Miller, bolstered Kenmare’s lead to 26-17. McIver and Post combined for three more in the remainder of the third, but two more from Kate Zimmer in between gave the Honkers an eight-point lead entering the final eight minutes.

The Panthers once more came out of the break swinging, as Glenburn benefitted from a crucial three-pointer from Post and two more from McIver to again give the Panthers a bit of hope. It was immediately dashed by 12-2 Honkers run to close the book on the game by a 40-27 final score.

“That was a tough loss,” Stroklund said of Thursday’s game against the Miners. “But we’re really excited to play for that fifth-place spot. We came here to work hard and that’s what we’re doing.”

Her efforts certainly bore fruit, as she finished with a game-high 21 points and 15 total rebounds. Mashae Miller also added nine points for the victors. Glenburn did see a scorer finish in double digits, but Rolland contributed nine points and seven rebounds to lead her squad in both categories.

Glenburn will meet Hettinger-Scranton vying for seventh place Saturday at 12 p.m., and Kenmare advanced to play Langdon-Area-Edmore-Munich for fifth place at 2:30 p.m.

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