Girls' basketball: Osakis earns statement win

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The Osakis girls got the big win they were looking for this season in a 49-40 game at third-ranked Sauk Centre on Tuesday night.

The Silverstreaks came into the game 8-1 but looking for that signature win that would really cement them as a section contender. That’s exactly what they got against a Mainstreeters team that was 10-0 before running into Osakis.

“I felt that from start to finish, this team played their best game of the year,” head coach Pat Kalpin said of his girls. “We were able to build an early lead in the game and keep that lead the rest of the game. I believe we were down 7-6 at one point but never trailed after that.”

Osakis led by 10 at the break and stretched it to a 14-point lead in the second half. Sauk Centre battled back to make it a four-point game with less than three minutes left, but the Silverstreaks took care of the ball and made enough free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

The Osakis defense never let Sauk Centre get comfortable. The Silverstreaks held the Mainstreeters to their lowest point total of the season and 20 points below their season average.

“Our help-side defense was outstanding, which helped limit their opportunities to get to the basket with drives,” Kalpin said. “We rebounded the ball very well tonight, as well. Sauk is a very athletic team, and one of their many strengths is rebounding on the offensive end.”

Junior forward Madi Forsell played perhaps the best game of her varsity career to lead her team to the win. She finished with a team-high 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Forsell didn’t miss a shot, going 3-for-3 from two, 2-for-2 from three and hitting all six of her free throw attempts.

“All the girls contributed in positive ways,” Kalpin said. “But the play of Madi tonight was the big difference in the game…it was a good breakout game for her, and it came in a game where it was much needed.”

The win moved Osakis to 9-1 overall and to 5-0 against Section 6AA opponents.

GAME STATISTICS

SAUK CENTRE 18 22 – 40

OSAKIS 28 21 – 49

OSAKIS TOTALS – FG – 16-31; Three-point FG – 4-6; Free throws – 13-22; Rebounds – 20; Assists – 14; Blocks – 4; Steals – 8

OSAKIS – Mackenzie Staloch – 1 point, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal; Rachelle Rajdl – 5 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal; Savageau – 12 points, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 3 rebounds, 2 steals; Mariah Backes – 1 assist; Brittney Sadlemyer – 5 points, 1 rebound; Becka Sadlemyer – 3 points, 1 block, 2 rebounds, 1 steal; Forsell – 18 points, 6 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals

SAUK CENTRE – Jena Klaphake – 9 points; Elizabeth Ellens – 14 points; Jordan Gamradt – 2 points; Macy Weller – 6 points; Rebecca Moe – 3 points; Brianna VonWahlde – 4 points; Sydney Zenzen – 2 points

Tags: osakis sports, sports, silverstreaks, girls, basketball