A late three pointer by Park Rapids' Janessa Wolff stifled the Detroit Lakes girls' basketball Mid-State Conference title hopes -- for now.
Wolff and her Panther teammates played a near flawless game Friday night to topple the Lakers 47-46, snapping a three-game winning streak and handing DL its first loss in the conference.
The Lakers rebounded with a convincing victory over the home-team Bemidji Lumberjacks Tuesday by the score of 68-45, improving DL to 19-3 on the season.
Wolff made her presence felt -- and more -- on the inside and on the outside, as she hit the game-winning three pointer with nine seconds left in regulation to put Park Rapids up 47-46. She finished the game with 28 points, going 8-9 from the free throw line.
The Panthers as a team went an impressive 16-18 from the charity stripe, as well.
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"We didn't play very sharp," said DL head coach Mike Hoganson. "Abby Hoganson and Kally Wolf stepped up to keep us in the game."
The Lakers would use their long-ball approach against the Panthers. DL made more three pointers than two-point field goals, sinking nine treys and just six shots from the rest of the floor.
Senior forward Jordanne Even was held to an uncharacteristic two points on the game after falling into foul trouble.
Meanwhile, Wolf and Abby Hoganson were both zoned in from beyond the arc, as each hit four three pointers, Hoganson nailing three alone in the second half.
Both finished with a team-high 14 points.
DL didn't match the Panthers' free throw shooting, however, going just 7-13 from the line.
The Lakers took out their frustrations on Bemidji, pounding the Lumberjacks in the first half, 34-17, and keeping the pressure on throughout the game for a 68-45 win.
"We played some of the best defense of the year," Mike Hoganson said. "The girls played great team defense."
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Corey Lof led the way with 14 points, while Wolf had 12.
The Lakers will play at Wadena-Deer Creek Thursday, and host Pequot Lakes Saturday at 6:30 p.m. to make up a postponed game from last Friday.
If DL wins both, the Lakers will at least share the conference title with Park Rapids, which also has one loss in the Mid-State.
Laker results
Detroit Lakes at Bemidji, Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Lakers 34 34 - 68
Bemidji 17 28 - 45
Scoring (2-3-ftm-fta-pts)
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DL: Macey Bentley 2-0-0-2-4; Jena Hanson 1-1-0-0-5; Abby Hoganson 1-0-0-0-2; Corey Lof 6-0-2-5-14; Kally Wolf 0-4-0-0-12; Jordanne Even 1-2-0-0-8; Alexis Kotschevar 0-0-5-5-5; Betsy Hutchinson 3-0-3-4-9; Hallie Hoganson 3-1-0-0-9. Team: 17-8-10-16-68.
Bem: Krista Stowe 1-0-0-0-2; Megan Larson 1-0-0-0-2; Meg Claypool 1-0-3-4-5; Brittany Mayclin 2-1-1-2-8; Liz Judkins 3-0-0-0-6; Alexis Gauwitz 3-0-0-0-6; C. Huesby 1-0-0-0-2; Ashley Erikson 0-0-4-5-4; Lindsey Gullickson 0-0-2-2-2; Kara Thomas 2-0-0-0-4; Brianna Hemmer 2-0-0-0-4. Team: 16-1-10-12-45.
Detroit Lakes at Park Rapids, Friday, Feb. 17.
Lakers 20 26 - 46
Panthers 20 27 - 47
DL: Bentley 0-1-0-0-3; A. Hoganson 0-4-2-4-14; Lof 1-0-2-4-4; Wolf 1-4-0-0-14; Even 1-0-0-0-2; Hutchinson 2-0-1-2-5; H. Hoganson 1-0-2-3-4. Team: 6-9-7-13-46.
PR: Lauren Knuttila 0-1-4-4-7; Nicole Schumacher 3-0-1-2-7; Lindsey Czeczik 1-0-3-3-5; Janessa Wolff 7-2-7-9-28. Team: 11-3-16-18-47.
