The game started out in the home team's favor, with Barnesville jumping out to a quick lead. It was a back-and-forth affair for the entire half, with Perham failing to score the last 5 minutes of the half. Barnesville went into the break with a 21-19 lead.

Perham came out with 5 quick points to take the lead in the second half. Cora Grismer hit a three and Ryleigh Mickelson scored on a nice drive. Then Barnesville scored the next 9 points, many off of Perham turnovers, to take the lead back. What ensued was more back-and-forth action with each team taking multiple leads and tie games galore. No one could pull away and every whistle had the crowd on the edge of their bleacher seat. 

Eventually, the Trojans got huge buckets from Macie Pauna and Kenadee Gray. Pauna hit a tough layup and then Kenadee Gray hit a three to push the Barnesville lead to 4. Cora Grismer answered with a 3 to cut it to 1 with 45 seconds left. With no hesitation, Gray drove baseline and finished with a tough floater over a high flying help defender in Willow Thiel. After a Yellowjacket miss, the Trojans added a free throw to put the lead at 58-54. Kennedy Pilgrim was fouled with 1.7 seconds left, made the first one to cut it to a single possession and then it was ruled that her second free throw didn't hit the rim on an intentional miss. A last second steal by Pilgrim left the Jackets still unable to get a shot up. 

Thiel led Perham with 26 points and 16 rebounds.  Grismer added 19 and Pilgrim supplied 9 points.

Abby John and Gray were in double figures for Barnesville, scoring 23 and 15 points, respectively.  Ava Follingstad chipped in with 9.

Barnesville (12-5, 6-2 HOL) has a non-conference game against Edgeley-Kulm at NDSCS on Friday.  They return to HOL play with home games against Pelican Rapids next Tuesday and DGF on Friday, February 9.

Perham (17-3, 7-2 HOL) will host Breckenridge next Tuesday and travel to Frazee on Friday, February 9.