Girls' basketball: Steffenson sparks Brandon-Evansville to win

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When the Brandon-Evansville girls found themselves struggling against Warrior Arianna Karsky, they had to find a new way to the basket.

That way came from long range as the Chargers hit 11 three-point shots to counter the 39 points scored by the Wheaton/Herman-Norcross junior, carrying Brandon-Evansville to a 67-64 overtime win.

“Karsky was a solid girl underneath,” said Charger head coach Dick Simpson. “She had good position and we just couldn’t stop her. They [Warriors] shot 50 percent from the field.

The Chargers’ long range firing was led by Carlie Steffenson, who scored a career-high 20 points, including five from three-point range to tie a school record.

Steffenson stepped up strong in the final moments of the game as well.

With less than a minute on the clock in regulation, the Charger senior hit one of her threes to tie the game. Then, with the game tied at 64 in the extra session, she made a running seven-footer with 16 seconds on the clock to give Brandon-Evansville the lead.

But Steffenson, who had several family members from Wheaton in attendance, wasn’t done yet. She closed out the game by grabbing a rebound and being fouled, then hitting one of two free throws to give the Chargers their three-point victory.

“A career-high, a school record, and the tying and winning baskets; I told her she should bring her family more often,” joked Simpson, whose team opens Section 6A tournament play tomorrow, Thursday, at home against the winner of Monday’s Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa and Wheaton/Herman-Norcross opening round game.

“[It was a] nice comeback after being down,” he added. “We were down 60-49 and outscored them 18-4 in the last six minutes. We kind of scrambled, but we pulled it out.”

BRANDON-EVANSVILLE 67, WHEATON/HN 64 OT

BE 36 26 5 — 67

WHEATON/HN 35 27 2 — 64

BRANDON-EVANSVILLE – Megan Kokett 9, Carlie Steffenson 20, Megan Friedrich 12, Carrigan Okerlund 3, Mariah Hansen 13, Emily Friedrich 7, Kristine Betterman 3. Field goals 20-60, Free throws 16-27, Rebounds 34 (E. Friedrich 12, M. Friedrich 8, Hansen 6), Assists (Hansen 7, Elizabeth Vinson 7), Turnovers 11.

WHEATON/H-N – Taylor Kemper 14, Stephanie Lupkes 3, Anika Wright 4, Abby Lee 2, Arianna Karskey 36, Jordan Stafford 5. Field goals 25-51, Free throws 10-18, Rebounds 35, Turnovers 19.

Tags: brandon evansville sports, sports, chargers, girls, basketball