The Frazee Hornets started strong and finished strong as they upended the Perham Yellowjackets 59-53 in a Heart O’Lakes girls basketball game at the Hive on Feb. 18.
The Hornets raced out to a 9-2 lead only to see the Yellowjackets surge back on the Hornets and take a 29-25 lead into the break.
However, the Hornets clamped down and capitalized on Perham miscues to take control in the second half. The Hornets outscored the Yellowjackets 34-24 in the second half and secured the six-point win.
The Hornets had three players finish in double figures. Dani Piche led the way with 21 points. She connected on four 3-pointers, while Paige Ziegler added 14 and Annika Reierson finished with 11 points.
The Hornets started the second half on a 12-5 run, which was highlighted by a 3-pointer from Annika Reierson. Perham answered back with a bucket inside by Stella Raser, but Piche hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead back. Perham’s Sydney Anderson connected from deep to cut the lead to one at 40-39. However, Frazee was able to keep the lead momentarily.
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Perham eventually grabbed the lead after a 3-pointer from Katie Johnson and a basket from Anderson, which made it 49-47. However, Frazee closed the game on a 12-4 run and secured the road win over Perham, 59-53.
Anderson led all Perham scorers with 20 points. Johnson finished the game with 11 and Stella Raser finished with 10 points.
The loss dropped the Yellowjackets to 16-9 overall and 6-5 in the Heart O’Lakes Conference. Fortunately for the Yellowjackets, it didn’t hurt their seeding, but it did affect who their opponent would be for the Section 8AA Tournament.
The Yellowjackets will host Breckenridge in the first round of the tournament. Perham defeated Breckenridge 63-58 in Breckenridge and 41-32 in Perham. The two teams will open the Section 8AA playoffs on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
However, the Yellowjackets have one regular season game remaining. The Yellowjackets close the season against the HOL Champion Pelican Rapids Vikings. The Vikings are 24-0 and defeated Perham 62-39 earlier in the season. Those two teams will tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 in Pelican Rapids to close out the regular season.
FRA 25 34--59
PER 29 24--53
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FRA-Madison Starry 4, Annika Reierson 11, Dani Piche 21, Paige Ziegler 14, Talia Gabrielson 5, Ellie Reierson 4
3-pointers: A. Reierson, Piche 4. Free Throws: 15-20. Team Fouls: 15. Fouled Out: None
PER-Mya Morris 5, Mallory Belka 3, Lily DeBoer 4, Stella Raser 10, Sydney Anderson 20, Katie Johnson 11.
3-pointers: Morris, Belka, Anderson 4, Johnson 3. Free Throws: 8-13. Team Fouls: 14. Fouled Out: Grayce Mickelson
