Maranatha, LPHT advance in Section 4A

<p>Maranatha Christian wore out Heritage Christian 70-62 in the first game of the Section 4A semi-final doubleheader at Anoka Ramsey CC Tuesday night, while Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity pulled away from Minneapolis North 67-47 in the second game. Both games were closer than the final score might suggest.</p> <p><strong>Lester Prairie turns it on</strong></p> <p>This is particularly true of the LPHT win over North. North took the lead at 22-21 on an Alani Pettis putback with 4:44 left in the 1st half. The Polars led 28-25 at the half, and still led 30-28 early in the 2nd half. LPHT took the lead for good at 32-30 on a dribble drive by Hope Feltmann, but North was still within 37-35 after pretty play—an offensive board and assist by Wooten and a bucket by Pettis at around 11 minutes of the 2nd half.</p> <p>But, Lester Prairie scored on its next 5 possessions and its next 5 shots over a period of about 1:30, including a 3 and a 2 + 1. Marissa Radtke hit a 3 from the rightr corner. Jenna Dolezal scored with the left hand on a dribble drive. Madi Radtke scored a 2 +1 on an in-bounds play. Madi Radtke scored again on a pull-up jumper in transition, and Hope Feltmann also scored off the bounce in transition.49-35. Game over.</p> <p>North had stayed close as senior guard Marshell Cook kept Madi Radtke in check with just 5 points in the 1st 30 minutes of play, and as Monique Wooten took the ball to the rack repeatedly, scoring 10 in the 1st half and 19 for the game.</p> <p>But Lester Prairie got its transition game going in the 2nd half and had a balanced scoring attack. Madi Radtke finished with 16, Feltmann 15, Jenna Dolezal and Kayla Weinzierl 12. LPHT shot 25-of-48 for the night, while North managed just 19-of-65.</p> <p><strong>Maranatha 70 Heritage 62</strong></p> <p>This one was tight at the half, too, as Heritage led 35-34. They had to be disappointed and Maranatha coach Chris Buerman feeling pretty good at halftime, however. Heritage had led 35-29 at 1:00, but Breianna Smestad hit a 3 and Kylie Post 2 off the glass to close out the 1st half. But, more importantly, coach Buerman had played 9 kids and coach Lori Crellin just 6 for Heritage, and the Heritage kids were already exhausted as the buzzer sounded.</p> <p>Still, Heritage not only stayed close, they led 39-38 around the 14 minute mark. And, after falling behind 53-44, they got back to within 56-53 at 6:30 and 61-57 at 3:30. But, Jaclyn Jarnot scored 5 times inside of 10 minutes. Held to just 4 1st half points, Jarnot added 14 in the 2nd for a team-high 18. Sami Payne and Kylie Post added 15 each and Elise Moore 11.</p> <p>Heritage got 23 points from senior post Maddy Torve, who was active and aggressive throughout the final game of her high school career. Taylie Scott added 15 and Jordyn Allen 10. In the end, Heritage was undone, well, by fatigue down the stretch but also by 29 turnovers, 11 of them by Scott. And, while Heritage scored 14 points on 13 1st half offensive boards, the scored just 2 2nd chance points in the 2nd half.</p>