By John George
The Lady Eagles basketball team used solid outside shooting to open up a first half lead at Ulen-Hitterdal last Friday, then held on in the second half for a 56-54 win.
"We didn't play our best, but it was a big section road win," said head coach Dave Paavola.
NY Mills was 4-for-10 from behind the 3-point line in the first half, with Betsy Helmeke hitting a pair and Kendra McCall and Kristen Perala getting the others. That opened up the inside for Hannah Rutten, who scored 13 of her 19 points in the first half as the Eagles built a 36-29 lead.
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Second half three's by Helmeke and Perala helped hold off a Ulen-Hitterdal rally as the Spartans outscored Mills 25-20 after halftime.
Sam Welter came off the bench and had three assists, three steals and five blocked shots to go with six points. Helmeke finished with 11 points along with three assists and three steals.
On the road to start 2008
The Lady Eagles will start the New Year on the road in Frazee Jan. 4. Mills edged the Hornets (7-3, 2-3 HOL) last year by four points, 58-54. NY Mills will stay on the road for their next contest, Jan. 10 at Menahga (7-2, 1-1 Park Region). The teams split their two meetings last season.
The three girls state championship teams of 1977, 1978 and 1979 will be honored Jan. 11-12 in New York Mills.
On Jan. 11 the teams will be introduced during half time of the girls game against Swanville.
A 30th Reunion dinner and a program will be held Jan. 12 in the school commons to honor the players and coaches.
Tickets for the program are on sale now at the district office or from a member of the 2007-08 girls basketball team. Tickets are $10/adult, $5/student.
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Friday, December 28
New York Mills 56, Ulen-Hitterdal 54
NYM 36-20--56
U-H 29-25--54
Eagles--Hannah Rutten 19, Betsy Helmeke 11, Kristen Perala 8, Heather McCall 8, Sam Welter 6, Kendra McCall 3, Bobbi Smith 1.
Spartans--M. Schultz 17, Zillmer 8, Ciernia 7, Hilde 7, L. Schultz 4, Wirries 7, Erickson 4.
Field Goals--NYM 17/42, UH 20/47; 3-pointers--NYM 6/18, UH 1/5; Free Throws--NYM 4/10, UH 11/; Rebounds--NYM 27 (Rutten 14); Assists--NYM 16 (3 tied with 3); Steals--NYM 14 (Rutten 4); Turnovers--NYM 14; Team Fouls--NYM 12, UH .
Park Region Conf. All
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Sebeka 2-0 8-3
New York Mills 2-1 6-3
Pillager 2-1 4-5
Menahga 1-1 7-2
Verndale 1-1 3-3
Bertha-Hewitt 1-2 3-4
Henning 0-3 1-7
