Pine City traveled to Ogilvie on Tuesday night.
This game may have been the game of the year, the winner stays undefeated in conference play and stands a top the conference alone.
Before the game had even started you could feel everyone's collective breath was being held in anticipation of the outcome. But there was no holding back for either of the teams. Both came out firing on what may have been both teams best offensive performance up to this point. The pace had been set from tip off and it seemed like each side was running a 100 yard dash the entire game, with no let down in intensity. The Dragons took an early lead and held that lead for most of the first half. Late in the 1st half Ogilvie was on the march and swung momentum in their favor and took the lead. Although the lead didn't last long the Lions knew they were close to taking over. But before half the Dragons retook the lead and after a short period of mistakes, the offense was back on track leading at half 40-36.
The 2nd half carried the same pace and intensity as the first, an impressive showing of endurance by both sides. Pine City had taken a double digit lead early on in the 2nd half, and hoped this would propel their team towards victory. Sadly, they had some errors that plagued them throughout the game that Ogilvie was able to capitalize on. Late in the game the Lions made the Dragons pay for those mistakes and had taken a 3 point lead with under a minute to go. Pine City would cut it back to 1 point but were forced to foul and send Ogilvie to the free throw line. Ogilvie made only one of two shots from the charity stripe and the Dragons knew this was their chance to tie the game and go into overtime for a chance at the win. But their offense just couldn't get a shot to fall and the Lions grabbed the rebound and were fouled. Once again only hitting one of the two free throws as Pine City snatched the rebound they had one final chance, but the Lions stole the ball back and ended the game winning 82-80!
With the loss Pine City drops to 12-5 on the season and 7-1 in the conference. They're 60 game conference winning streak also comes to an end. They're firmly in 2nd place now and will get another chance at Ogilvie at home Feb. 9th.
With the win Ogilvie sits with an impressive 15-2 record and stays unbeaten in the conference solely in first place. They'll have a big rematch on Thursday as they host Braham, who they beat on a buzzer beater not long ago.
Scoring:
Pine City
Karly Jusczak 39
Brooke Boland 11
Summer Thieman 10
Vivian Lahti 7
Mallory Clepper and Piper Mettling 6
Ogilvie
Grace Heins 31
Kadence Pierce 19
Aleah Robyn 15
Bethany Besser 6
Ruby Beier 4
Amelia Arnold 3
Addison Reed 2
