Search
Sophomore point guard Ellie Colbeck connected on 9 baskets from behind the arc, scoring a game and career-high 37 points as the Fergus Falls Otters (25-4), downed Roseau 89-59, in a 8AA semi-final at Concordia College Wednesday night. The win advances Fergus Falls to the 7 p.m. championship game Friday against Pelican Rapids at Concordia. The Vikings gained the final earlier that evening with a come from behind 51-42 win over Hawley.
Roseau opened scoring in the contest as their Junior star, Katie Borowicz sank a pair of free-throws. It would be the Rams only lead of the contest as the Otters answered quickly getting treys from Colbeck and Tori Ratz sandwiching a driving lay-up from Sabrina Fronning and it was 8-2. The Otter defense held the high-scoring Borowicz, who had 35 points against Perham, in check with 6 points in the opening half, as she struggled to find the range on numerous long-range attempts.
Half-way thru the half Fergus Falls was clinging to a 21-17 lead before going on a 12-0 run to open up a 16-point lead with 6:48 to go in the half, which they mantained, taking a 43-27 lead at the half. Colbeck had five of the Otters seven 3's in the opening half, and 19 points total. Fronning added 7 points, as did Anna Anderson off the bench. Julia Braaten had 11 and Shavonda Bender 10 for the Rams.
Roseau made no serious runs at the Fergus Falls lead in the second half, getting no closer than 13 down, as the Otters steadily increased their lead. Colbeck added four more treys and 18 points in the half, with Ratz, Fronning, and Carlie Meis scoring 7 points each.
Youthful Roseau, with no seniors on their roster, were led in scoring by Braaten (17), Borowicz (16), and Bender (15). The Rams connected on 39% (23-of-59) of their attempts from the floor and were 9-of-11 at the line. Besides Colbeck's 37 points, Fronning finished with 14 and Ratz 13. Paige Pearson and Gretchen Davis collected 10 rebounds apiece and Colbeck had 6 boards. Colbeck had a team high 7 assists and the Otters had 21 assists on their 26 made baskets.
The Otters made 47% (26-of-55) of their FG's and were 24-of-29 at the charity stripe. The thirteen made 3's is believed to be an Otter girls single game record.
“I loved our effort right from the start,” said Head Coach Brad Strand of Fergus Falls. “The kids ere dialed in from the beginning and we shot the ball really well. I’m looking forward to being back in a section championship game and to facing a very good, undefeated Pelican Rapids ball club. Concordia Memorial Auditorium will be rocking on Friday night!”
Fergus Falls (25-4) will face Pelican Rapids on Friday night at 7 o’clock at Concordia. The winner will qualify for the Class AA State Tournament.