There's been a common correlation between the Detroit Lakes girls' basketball and turnovers -- too many have resulted in a loss, not many have turned into a win.
That was no more apparent than in DL's last two games, where they toppled the visiting Park Rapids Panthers 60-41 Friday, then lost in Fergus Falls Saturday by the score of 63-42.
"I've told the girls, when we have more assists than turnovers, we have a 100-percent win rate," said DL head coach Mike Hoganson. "Against Park Rapids, turnovers were not an issue. They girls took care of the ball and were aggressive.
"But in Fergus Falls, turnovers reared its ugly head again."
The Lakers (3-10) keyed their success against the Panthers (1-12) with an effective inside game, which was led by post Courtney Gray with 16 points.
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Gray converted the majority of her high-percentage shots from inside the paint, while center Jenny Matter also found success near the basket with 14 points -- with 12 of those coming in the second half.
"Courtney (Gray) has as good a touch on her inside shot as I have seen here," Hoganson said. "From eight feet and in, she's tough to stop."
The Lakers kept the Panthers honest with a solid perimeter game, as well, with guard Kayli Muckenhirn going for nine points and point guard Courtney Hedstrom for seven.
Senior guard Ashlyn Jasken also hit two three's and finished with eight points.
Defensively, DL smothered the visitors in the paint, forcing them to shoot from the outside.
Guard Hannah Wolff did drain four three-pointers in the second half to lead Park Rapids with 16 points, but that wasn't enough as DL outscored the Panthers 33-21 in the second half.
Playing their third game within five days, some tired legs may have effected the Lakers against a strong Otters squad Saturday.
Fergus Falls (8-4) scored from all over the court and had 12 players notch points, as well as running a tough half-court defense to limit DL's looks at the basket.
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Mariah Monke garnered a lot of attention inside the paint by the Laker defense, thus opening up shooting lanes for her teammates.
"Fergus Falls has such a balanced attack and Monke is a load inside," Hoganson said. "We had to show her so much attention inside, it freed up some other players."
Monke still finished 15 points, while guard Sydney Schultz netted four three's and 13 points.
Fergus Falls also hit for seven total treys in the game.
The Otters attacked early, building a commanding 38-19 lead at the half, as DL did make a rally in the second, but coming up well short.
Muckenhirn led the way with 12 points, while Hedstrom had 10.
The Lakers will travel to No. 9 ranked Alexandria (9-3) Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Laker results
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Park Rapids at Detroit Lakes, Friday, Jan. 15.
Panthers 20 21 - 41
Lakers 27 33 - 60
Scoring stats (2-3-ftm-fta-pts) -- DL: Ashlyn Jasken 1-2-0-0-8; Hannah Halbakken 1-0-0-0-2; Courtney Gray 6-0-4-4-16; Taylor Tschider 2-0-0-0-4; Courtney Hedstrom 2-1-0-0-7; Jenny Matter 7-0-0-0-14; Kayli Muckenhirn 2-1-0-2-9; Rachel Shane 1-0-0-0-2. Team: 21-4-4-6-60.
PR: Wolff 1-4-2-2-16; Lundin 2-0-0-0-4; Christenson 3-0-0-2-6; Shogren 2-1-0-0-7; Pierce 1-0-0-0-2; Domino 2-0-1-2-5; Haas 0-0-1-5-1. Team: 11-5-4-11-41.
Detroit Lakes at Fergus Falls, Saturday, Jan. 16.
Lakers 19 23 - 42
Otters 38 25 - 63
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DL: Jasken 2-0-0-0-4; Gray 3-0-0-0-6; Tschider 1-0-0-0-2; Courtney Hedstrom 2-2-0-0-10; Muckenhirn 5-0-2-2-12. Team: 17-2-2-2-42.
FF: E. Olson 0-2-1-2-7; K. Angulski 0-1-0-0-3; K. Hohman 1-0-0-0-2; S. Schultz 0-4-0-1-5-13; B. Rasmusson 2-0-2-2- 6; M. Hauck 1-0-0-1-2; M. Ekren 1-0-0-0-2; A. Monke 3-0-0-1-6; C. Ouren 2-0-1-2-5; M. Monke 6-0-3-6-15; M. Anderson 1-0-0-0-2. Team: 17-7-8-19-63.
