Parker Yaggie (3) and Ava Jaehning (4) apply pressure against the Raiders
The Breckenridge Cowgirls (11-6) earned a gritty 71-61 road win Tuesday against the Lake Park-Audubon Raiders (10-4). The Section 6A clash featured several scoring runs in a fast-paced, physical contest.
Senior guard Parker Yaggie led the Cowgirls with a game-high 24 points and the Raiders received 17 from Ellen Schauer.
Offensively, the Cowgirls deployed a balanced attack in the first half. Yaggie led the way with nine points, while the trio of Emily Gowin, Johnica Bernotas and Ana Spear combined for five three-pointers.
The Raiders kept pace behind 10 points from Kendra Nelson and seven from Schauer, trailing 34-33 at the break.
Spear was the Cowgirl catalyst in the final 18 minutes. The junior shooting guard connected twice from beyond the arc and scored eight of her season-high 11 points in the second half.
Ava Jaehning also scored eight in the second half while heading Breckenridge’s full-court press. The freshman scored a pair of late buckets to help put the game on ice, closing the contest with 13 points.
Bernotas added 10 points with a pair of threes. The senior helped stave off the Raider rally by running the offense with excellent ball security after LPA cut the lead to 55-51.
Piper Jaehning and Emily Gowin combined for 13 points to supplement the perimeter scoring for a Breckenridge team that has won nine of its last 11 games.
Breckenridge looks to keep its Heart O’ Lakes Conference title chances alive Thursday in a road rematch at Pelican Rapids. The Cowgirls defeated the Vikings at home in late November, 56-45.
Thursday’s broadcast will air on B 92.7 FM and KBMW News Live YouTube beginning at 7:15 p.m. Turner Blaufuss has the call on the i3G Sports Network.