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The Wildcat girls started the week with a daunting task as they tried to put a halt to Totino-Grace's 18-game winning streak. It didn't work out that way as the fifth-rated Eagles won 64-38 at TG Tuesday, February 5.

"We came out playing well. We were getting the loose balls, creating turnovers with our press, and making some shots," said Wildcat head coach Craig Walker. "But, they are for real and, despite our efforts, we still trailed 33-22 at the half.

"We've made some real strides prior to the game with TG. Just being in the game at the half was a big confidence booster. We were down 25 at halftime in the first meeting.

"We didn't fare real well in the second half, as we stopped making our shots and working their defense. It didn't help that we only shot two freethrows in the second half, either," Walker added.

Megan Corradi continues to play well, recording another double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds), but was the only Wildcat player to score in double digits.

GAME SUMMARY

Chisago Lakes 22 16 38

Totino-Grace 33 31 64

Ristow, Kelsey 4

Farrell, Amanda 2

Trandahl, Cassie 2

Tinjum, Whitney 3

Corradi, Megan 18

Sells, Kori 9

Total 38

Irondale at Chisago Lakes

On senior night, the five Wildcat seniors gave Irondale nightmares. The seniors combined for 65 points in a 76-73 comeback win over the Knights in the CLHS gym Friday, February 8.

Senior Amanda Farrell gave the 'Cats an early lead by hitting a pair of freethrows in the game's second minute. Classmate Kori Sells scored the game's first field goal. Her putback at the 16 minute mark put her team back in the lead. The 4-2 advantage was the last one the home team would enjoy for a long time.

Irondale went on a three-minute, 11-point run that gave them a 13-4 lead. At 13:43, Sells found herself surrounded in the lane. Rather than try to force a shot, she faked and then spotted another senior, Megan Corradi alone at the elbow. Corradi hit the 15-footer to break the Irondale string.

After the Knights scored on their next possession, Corradi drove, scored and was fouled. When she drained the foul shot, her team trailed 15-9 with 12:56 left in the half.

Sells' single freethrow fit between a pair of Irondale two pointers. That gave the Knights another nine-point bulge at 19-10.

Corradi took matters into her own hands 50 seconds later. She retreated quickly to defend a two-on-one Irondale break. She blocked the shot, picked the ball out of the air, drove the length of the court and laid it in from the right side.

After Irondale took a 24-12 lead, Corradi took a pass from Cassie Trandahl and scored, making it 24-14. She scored again, at 8:42, before a Corradi to Summer Young to Brenna Coyle basket with eight minutes left made it 28-18. Sells got back into the act with back-to-back hoops. Her second, a jumper from the foul line cut the Knights' lead to 28-22 with 7:10 to go.

Sells made it three in-a-row at 5:25 before Farrell and Corradi each scored two from the charity stripe. But, Irondale continued to score and, at 2:28 had built its lead to 41-28. Before the break, Corradi and eighth-grader Whitney Tinjum were successful driving to the hoop. When the horn sounded, the Wildcats were behind 42-32.

"We started out cold against Irondale," Coach Walker said. "They are tough inside. Aliene Debelak scored 16 points in the first half and ended up with 27 points. She was eight-for-eight from the freethrow line. Megan Corradi and Kori Sells kept us in the game in the first half. Megan had 15 and Kori scored nine."

At halftime, "We spoke about playing our type of basketball and getting up and down the floor in transition. We also spoke about other games where we were down at half and made adjustments and came out on top at the end.

"Most adjustments that we make are mental. We just need to focus on what works for us and then come back out and play with confidence," the coach said. Farrell hit two of three from behind the arc in the opening minutes to close the gap. And, the Wildcats' freethrow shooting helped them come back. They tied the score at 68 with just minutes remaining.

Lundberg had a big steal down the stretch and Farrell scored nine of her 13 points in the second half. Summer Young scored all of her points from the freethrow line, all in the second half. She was five of six.

After the game was tied, Debelak scored on the inside and put TG back in the lead, "But, Corradi made a three to put us up one," Walker said. "They had their chances. The game was obviously down to the wire and could have gone either way, but our two senior captains, Kori Sells and Megan Corradi have confidence in each other and our team and on senior night, they all contributed to a come back and a victory.

"Kori added 10 to her first half total to finish with 19 points and 13 rebounds as she controlled the glass in the second half. Megan scored another 12 points to finish with a career high 27. The two captains were leaders tonight, Megan shot 50 percent from the field and Kori shot 80 percent, going eight for 10.

"Our last two points came on an inbounds play with us up by one point, having to protect the ball. Megan scored on a layup with seven seconds remaining to put us up 76-73 and their desperation three hit hard off the glass.," Walker continued.

GAME SUMMARY

Chisago Lakes 32 44 76

Irondale 42 31 73

Wildcat Scoring

Cassie Trandahl 4

Amanda Farrell 13

Alyssa Lundberg 4

Whitney Tinjum 2

Summer Young 5

Megan Corradi 27

Kori Sells 19

Brenna Coyle 2

Total 76

"This is a big win for us coming off the three blowouts. Irondale was a half game ahead of us in the conference standings and we are now in sixth place, ahead of them. Our next three games, at Columbia Heights (Tuesday, February 12), at Spring Lake Park (Friday, February 15) and home against Mahtomedi (Saturday, February 16 at 1:30 p.m.) are all section games and have great impact on our seeding for the tournament. We could be as high as two or as low as five, depending on how things shake out this week," Walker concluded.

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