The Paton-Churdan girls split the series with Ar-We-Va, losing a disappointing game at home Feb. 5, 70-67.
“This was a difficult loss, as we were up six with two minutes to go,” coach Chris Petersen said. Ar-Wa-Va’s lead scorer, freshman Emilee Danner, put up 15 points in the last two minutes. “It was one of the most impressive single player performances I have ever seen,” Petersen said of Danner’s play. Danner totaled 35 points for the game.
P-C was up 20-13 after one quarter and 34-26 at the half. They were up by six points, 48-41, to start the fourth quarter. P-C scored 19 points in the quarter, often enough to win a game, but Ar-We-Va put up 28 points.
Petersen said free throws were a factor in the game, his team making it to the line only 11 times. Sydney Koch was off her usual performance at the line, making just one of six for 17 percent while she’s 60 percent at the line for the season. Carleigh Paup was at the line five times and made three for 60 percent, behind her season 74.4 percent.
Despite the frustration at the line, Koch had a big night. She scored 23 points, more than twice her season average of 9.8 points, and she led her team in steals with five and assusts with six.
Paup scored 22 points, Jenna Beyers scored 10 points and led in rebounds with 10, and Kasey Lane scored six points and had seven rebounds and three blocks. Megan Carey added four points and Grace Geisler added two.
Paton-Churdan is now 11-8 while Ar-We-Va is 13-7. P-C finishes the regular season at home against CAM Monday, and then starts regional tournament play at Coon Rapids against CR-B on Thursday.
