The Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers girls’ basketball team hosted the Bottineau Stars in a home game on Thursday night, Jan. 22, amid frigid temperatures. The Stars extended their win streak to three with their 51-45 victory over the Lakers. The Lakers extended their loss streak to three.

The Stars took an early and wide lead in the first quarter with an 8-0 lead. The Lakers punched their first points onto the board with a two-point shot from the corner by junior guard Sierra Yale. The Lakers fought their way up to a close game at 1-13. The Stars pulled ahead again, but the Lakers were able to tie that game at 16-16 and took their first lead of the game at 18-16 with a shot from freshman Ella Smith. The Stars took the game back over, and earned eight more unanswered points to put them on the lead at 24-18 at the end of the second quarter.

Senior forward Hallie Nero led the Stars in points at half time, earning a total of 17 points for her team, more than half of the team’s total. Junior Sierra Yale was top scorer for the Lakers in the first two quarters, scoring seven points, followed closely by sophomore Hanna Sundsbak with six points. All of Sundsbak’s points came in the first quarter of the game.

Both teams continued to run up the score in the second half of the game with the Stars keeping a comfortable margin above the Lakers, but the Lakers fought hard to work their way up to a single-point deficit in the last minute of the third quarter at 36-35. The Lakers kept within just a point or two of the Stars in most of the fourth quarter. Both teams slowly worked their way up the scoreboard until just before two minutes remained in the ball game. The Stars scored a three-point shot, putting them two possessions over the Lakers at 49-45. The Stars were able to keep their lead and widened it at 51-45 at the end of the ball game, earning them their third win in a row.

Hallie Nero maintained her scoring lead for the Stars through the second half of the game, ending the night with a total of 25 points, nearly half of the team’s final score. Hanna Sundsbak took the top spot on the Lakers through her contributions in the second half, finishing the night with 16 points. Sierra Yale was close behind, ending the night with 14 points. The Stars improved on their record for the season to 8-7 while the Lakers fell to a record of 3-11. The Lakers will stay at home for the next game, as they are scheduled to take on the Rugby Panthers at Des Lacs-Burlington High School on Tuesday, Jan. 27.