Fergus Falls tops Alexandria in 8AAA title game

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Fergus Falls looked like a team that wasn't going to be denied as the Otters ended Alexandria's season 66-45 in the 8AAA girls' basketball title game in Moorhead on Friday night.

Sophomore Brianna Rasmusson was brilliant for the Otters on her way to a game-high 22 points. She hit four threes in the first half and Anna Monke added three triples to give Fergus Falls a 36-20 lead at the break.

The Cardinals were dealt a tough blow early when Lauren Trumm was called for her third foul with a sub waiting to come in for her at the scorers table. The senior guard was forced to the bench just three and a half minutes in and had to sit for much of the first half.

"That really was huge," head coach Wendy Kohler said. "I guess that's all I can say on that is losing Lauren is huge. We were out of sync and kind of shook up by that. Lauren's our leader. A huge break for Fergus."

Amanda Christianson tried to keep the Cardinals close. She had 10 points in the first half, but it wasn't enough to keep the Otters from building the double-digit lead by the break. It was exactly the start Alexandria was hoping to avoid.

"That was very tough," senior point guard Cara Wood said. "I knew they were going to come out with very good defense. I knew their attitudes. They have very confident attitudes. I mean, they're a good team. They're hard to defend. You got to give them props."

That's all that was left to do after the Otters left no doubt in this one after coming up short against Alexandria in last year's section title game. Christianson had 16 points for the Cardinals. Trumm finished her career with a 16-point effort, as well, while Wood and fellow senior Whitney Gesell had five and two, respectively. They wrapped up their careers by taking Alexandria to its third straight section championship game.

"I've loved basketball," Trumm said. "And I couldn't ask to play for any other team. I'll be a true Cardinal and I'll come back and cheer these guys on. I couldn't be happier with the way my career went."

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