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Red Wing Tournament-

Waseca 61

Chisago Lakes 43

Heading into last Friday’s season opener against Waseca in the first round of the Red Wing girls basketball tournament, Ed Wachutka and the rest of the Wildcats were thinking about words like identity, chemistry, and momentum.

After losing four seniors from last year, all four of which who were starters for the majority of the season, this year’s Chisago Lakes girls basketball team was trying to find their identity, they were trying to establish some early chemistry, and they were trying to develop some momentum.

Waseca didn’t exactly present the perfect opponent for a team with lots of questions. Considered the favorite in their section, the Bluejays showcased two post players who were also considered the best in the section, giving Wachutka and his ‘Cats some trouble.

Paced by a solid inside game, Waseca jumped out to an early lead thanks to 16 first quarter points. Most of the Bluejay buckets came from inside the paint.

“We knew they were going to be a pretty solid team. They had two good post players, so we were looking for intensity on defense and we wanted to push the ball up the floor,” mentioned Wachutka, Chisago Lakes head girls basketball coach. “We did that. They just got a lot of second shots in the lane and that really hurt us.”

Down 16-7 after one, the ‘Cats charged back in the second, led by their defense. After making a few adjusts, the Wildcats silenced the Bluejays inside game, holding them to just six points. Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, the Chisago got their offense going, led by Jess Peterson who struck for six in the quarter. The flurry pulled the Wildcats within seven at the half, 22-15.

“Jess really battled hard and got some quality buckets, and Kayla Ferris also. They both really battled inside,” replied Wachutka. “We felt pretty good about where we were at.”

In terms of offense, things continued to get better and better for the ‘Cats in the second half, scoring 28 points in quarters three and four. However, Waseca not only matched that total, they surpassed it, striking for 16 alone in the third and 23 in the fourth. The 39 point second half surge was more than enough for the Bluejays to score a 61-43 win, dropping the Wildcats to 0-1 on the season. For the game, a total of 10 players from Waseca registered in the score book. 46 of their points came from their starters.

“They were just too physical and too athletic,” said Wachutka. “Their posts were really active and they just wore us down. We fought hard but it took its toll after a while. Overall, we were pretty pleased with the way we kept battling. We finished the game doing the things we wanted to do, we just need to do it better.”

Offensively, Peterson led the Wildcats with 14 points. Ferris and Caitlin Cunningham each had nine. Cunningham’s nine points came on three three-pointers.

In addition, singled out the Wildcats position defense. Chisago drew three charges in the game.

Waseca 61

Chisago Lakes 43

1 2 3 4 F

Chisago Lakes 7 8 11 17 43

Waseca 16 6 16 23 61

Scoring-

Peterson 14, Ferris 9, Cunningham 9, Corradi 4, Reed 3, Skoog 2, Nelson 2.

Red Wing Tournament-

Red Wing 61

Chisago Lakes 31

Through two games, the Wildcats are averaging 63 points allowed. Through two games, they are 0-2.

One night after losing to Waseca at the Red Wing girls basketball tournament, last Saturday, Chisago concluded the tourney with a 63-31 loss to host Red Wing.

Unlike versus Waseca, the Wildcats were never in the game, falling behind 14-4 after one and 27-12 at the half. All four of the Wildcats points in the first came from Jess Peterson.

“They did to us what we want to do to other teams, pressure defense and hitting the boards,” said Wachutka. “Plus after a night sitting in a hotel, away from home, we just seemed to be a step slow.”

Or maybe two steps. Coming off a loss the night before, the Wingers breezed past the ‘Cats, giving their new head coach Kraig Ulveling his first win. Red Wing wanted to send a message and they did.

Leading by 15 at the half, the Wingers blew the game open in the third with 22 points to the Wildcats 12. Twelve of Red Wing’s points came from three-point land, the only time in the entire game they took their game outside the arc. They then added 12 more points in the fourth en route to a 61-31 win.

For Chisago, Peterson led the way, picking up her second straight double-double. Versus Waseca, Peterson scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Against Red Wing, Peterson netted 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

“They (Red Wing) had suffered a tough defeat the previous night and they were trying to establish their team, what they want to look like,” commented Wachutka. “The week took it’s toll on us. They caught us flat-footed.”

Along with Peterson, Katie Reed scored seven and Cunningham chipped in with three points. In addition, Megan Corradi and Kori Sells, both freshman, both scored their first career varsity points.

The loss dropped the Wildcats overall record to 0-2 on the year.

Red Wing 61

Chisago Lakes 31

1 2 3 4 F

Chisago Lakes 4 8 12 7 31

Red Wing 14 13 22 12 61

Scoring-

Peterson 13, Reed 7, Cunningham 3, Corradi 2, Wachutka 2, Skoog 2, Sells.

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