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Wildcat senior co-captains Megan Corradi and Kori Sells combined for 39 points, leading the CL girls to a 66-54 win over Spring Lake Park. The victory, at CLHS Tuesday, January 8, was the third consecutive conference win for the 'Cats.

The first half was closely contested, with the home team gaining a 32-25 advantage. That advantage disappeared in the first three minutes of the second period. The Panthers scored the first eight points to take a 33-32 lead at the 15:22 mark.

Summer Young ended the drought when she drove to the basket and converted an old fashioned three point play with 14 minutes left. SLP tied it at 35 before the Wildcat defense rose up to push CL into the lead for good.

Wildcat defensive pressure paid dividends when Young stole the ball an passed to Corradi, who scored with 12:45 remaining. Corradi's theft and pass 15 seconds later netted a Cassie Trandahl layup which was followed by a Young hoop. The 6-0 run gave Chisago a 41-35 margin.

Sells scored on a baseline jumper and on a putback of her own miss to maintain the six-point margin. Midway through the half, the score was 45-39 in favor of the 'Cats. Despite Corradi's bucket on a drive through the lane, the Panthers cut the deficit to 47-44 in the next 90 seconds.

Then, the Wildcats pulled away. Sells scored twice, Corradi had two assists and Amanda Farrell hit a crucial three in a 9-0, two minute run that gave CL a 56-46 lead with 4:50 on the clock.

SLP closed the gap to 60-54 with 1:40 left. But, following a Chisago timeout, the 'Cats outscored the Panthers 6-0 to earn the 12-point win.

Corradi had another huge all-around game with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 6 steals, 5 assists and a block. Sells went 8 for 11 from the field, scored 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and had 5 steals.

"We had some first half difficulty controlling the defensive rebounds which kept the Panthers in the game," Wildcat head coach Craig Walker said. "They had 15 offensive rebounds in the first half and only three in the second half, after we made some adjustments defensively.

"Megan Corradi continues to lead us offensively and is getting other players in the game, as well, with her assists. Summer Young did a great job getting her teammates involved by dishing out four assists. Our press at the end of the game allowed us to extend our lead. Summer and Whitney Tinjum each had four points off the press at the end of the game to seal the win," Walker added.

GAME SUMMARY

Chisago Lakes 32 34 66

Sp. Lake Park 25 29 54

Wildcat Scoring

Amanda Farrell 5

Cassie Trandahl 6

Whitney Tinjum 7

Summer Young 9

Megan Corradi 23

Kori Sells 16

Total 66

Robbinsdale Cooper at CL

Friday, January 11

Wildcat senior Megan Corradi made four freethrows in the last minute of play against the Red Hawks to assure the fourth consecutive win for CL. The clutch shooting helped the 'Cats beat Cooper 56-53.

"We regained the lead with 1:30 remaining made our freethrows and played good defense to seal the win," said coach Walker. "Cooper had a chance, with 30 seconds remaining, to tie the game when Capriece Ogris was fouled and landed on the basketball.

"She had to come out of the game and her replacement made the front end of the two shot penalty and missed the back end. Megan made the last of her freethrows for a three point lead and the victory in front of a packed house on Traveling Night," Walker commented.

GAME SUMMARY

Chisago Lakes 32 24 56

Cooper 27 26 53

Wildcat Scoring

Kelsey Ristow 2

Amanda Farrell 1

Cassie Trandahl 2

Whitney Tinjum 8

Summer Young 2

Megan Corradi 25

Kori Sells 10

Brenna Coyle 6

Total 66

"We played well this week against Park and Cooper. Megan continues to lead us scoring and we're getting solid contributions from many other players," Coach Walker said. "Cassie Trandahl had a great week defensively. She played a lot of minutes in the second half against Spring Lake Park. The Panthers point guard was real quick and we were having difficulty guarding her in the first half. We made some personnel changes and gave Cassie an extended opportunity and she did the job.

"Against Cooper we saw a similar situation, the Hawks second best player was their point guard and Cassie, along with Kelsey Ristow, did a nice job on her to disrupt their offense," Walker concluded.

The Wildcats host rival North Branch Friday, January 18 before playing at St. Louis Park Tuesday, January 22. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:15.

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