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The Wildcat girls' basketball team got off to a slow start Tuesday, February 20 at home. In a pre-game program, the team, coaches and fans honored the five CL seniors who've played together since seventh grade. Kayla Schultz, Jess Peterson, Kristen Tengwall, Courtney Skoog and Jamie Tschida did their best, but Robbinsdale-Cooper won the game 44-35.

Cooper opened with a full court press that gave the 'Cats fits. A three pointer, several Wildcat turnovers and four freethrows in the first 90 seconds put the Hawks up 7-0 before the crowd was seated.

Peterson's basket at 16:00 and a Courtney Skoog three with 13:05 on the clock closed the gap to 9-5. Megan Corradi drove and scored midway through the half to create a four point, 11-7 deficit. But, the Wildcats never got that close again.

Only sophomore Rachel Lukasik was able to score for CL in the next three minutes. Meanwhile, the Hawks put eight on the board, making their lead 19-10 with six minutes left in the half.

The home team scored the next four points. With 5:15 left, senior co-captains collaborated when Skoog fed Peterson for a short jumper at 5:15. At 3:50 three 'Cats combined some nice interior passes to make the score 19-15. Corradi spotted Peterson in the lane. Peterson turned, faked a shot and dropped a pass to Skoog open on the opposite side of the basket.

In the period's final three minutes, Cooper added nine to its total. Only Peterson's drive and freethrow interrupted the Hawk's run, making the halftime score 28-17, in favor of Robbinsdale.

After the intermission, the Wildcats' defense kept them in the game, limiting the Hawks to 16 second half points. Skoog led the home team in a spirited comeback. She made three from behind the arc (four for the game) to help the 'Cats cut the margin to one, "But, turnovers and lack of execution hurt us down the stretch," said Wildcat head coach Liz Mundahl. "Our defense, again, was good enough to win, but we didn't shoot the ball well and I think we let that affect the rest of our offense and decision making.

"Courtney Skoog stepped up and played excellent on both ends of the floor.  She works so hard on defense and to be able to shoot the ball as well as she did was great to see.  She needed a game like this. I think it gives her confidence and she knows she can play the whole game," Mundahl commented.

"The girls played hard and the seniors did a great job, just as they have done all season.  These girls have been part of the high school program for four years and have dedicated a lot of time to basketball.  They have been excellent leaders for this basketball team and the entire program.  They are very special and will be missed next year," Mundahl concluded.

Chisago Lakes 17 18 35

Robbinsdale-Cooper 28 16 44

Chisago Lakes Scoring

Megan Corradi 5

Rachel Lukasik 3

Jess Peterson 9

Kayla Schultz 2

Courtney Skoog 16

Total 45

The Wildcats open section play versus North Branch at Maple Grove High School tonight, Thursday, March 1 at 6 p.m. The game is the opener of a double header, with the second game at 8 p.m. The winners will meet Tuesday, March 5.

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