The Faribault Falcons girls basketball team hosted the Kasson-Mantorville KoMets tonight and showed they have improved since a loss to the KoMets earlier this season.  Kasson-Mantorville won 65-50 this game.  The December 4th game in Kasson the KoMets won 65-43.

The first contest it was the third game of the season for both teams.  Turnovers were the difference with the Falcons finishing the game with 27 turnovers and the KoMets 7 turnovers in the game.  Points off turnovers were 27-6 in favor of Kasson-Mantorville.   In that game the KoMets forced 18 turnovers in the first half and scored 19 points off them to take a 39-23 lead at the half.

Tonight the Falcons and KoMets had a see-saw first half with Faribault looking like they were going to lead at the half.  Approaching a minute to go they had a lead only to see Kasson-Mantorville get them to turn the ball over three times in the final minute and take a 29-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.  The Falcons had 8 turnovers in the first half by my unofficial tally and the KoMets scored 10 points off those turnovers.  Meanwhile Kasson-Mantorville had 9 turnovers in the first half and Faribault scored 7 points off those.

The Falcons showed improvement against the pressure defense Kasson-Mantorville can ratchet up. About four of Faribault's 15 turnovers in the game were in bounding the ball passes that simply were not caught.  The KoMets finished with 16 turnovers in the game.  Faribault scored 9 points off Kasson-Mantorville turnovers.  The KoMets scored 18 points off the Falcons 15 turnovers.

Senior Kasson-Mantorville point guard 5'5 Bailey Berge had some terrific passes in the game and led her team with 13 points.  Sophomore post 6'1 Mya Suess had 12 points and double digit rebounds.  Senior KoMet,. 5'10 Lexi Hugeback had a 10 point second half to finish with 12 points.

The Falcons were led by freshman 5'5 Evy Vettrus with 14 points.  12 came in the first half when she buried four three point baskets.  Obviously the KoMets knew where she was  in the second half and didn't let her get a shot off.  Senior Abby Van Ryn was the only other Falcons player in double figures with 11 points.

Before the game KoMets Head Coach Ryan Haraldson told KDHL they wanted to limit Van Ryn's three point opportunities.  They did.  In the first game she had 20 points including four three point baskets.  Tonight Van Ryn had 2 points in the first half, added 9 in the second half and collected two 3 point baskets.  It didn't appear she was really looking for her shot most of the game.  I had her doling out 5 assists in the first half, finishing with 8 assists.

Faribault could have made things more interesting in the second half had they hit their free throws.  The Falcons were 7 of 13 from the free throw line and the KoMets 6 of 10.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault players of the game were Vettrus, Van Ryn and Zoe Fronk.  Junior, 6'0 Fronk had to have double digit rebounds and finished with 6 points.  In December she tallied 11 points.

The Kasson-Mantorville bench was huge in the game with 16 points led by sophomore 5'8 Olivia Matuska's 8 points.  Faribault had 7 points off their bench.

Faribault is 3-11 and plays in a girls/boys doubleheader in Northfield Tuesday.  Both games will be on KDHL.  Coverage of the girls game begins 5:45 p.m. with the boys game to follow.

Kasson-Mantorville now 10-6, travels to Cannon Falls Friday.

Other girls basketball Monday from around the area:

  • Belle Plaine 73  Bethlehem Academy 30
  • Medford 72  Schaeffer Academy 25
  • Kenyon-Wanamingo 55  Kingsland 31
  • Byron 79  Houston 72
  • Norwood-Young America 61  Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 41
  • St. Clair 67  Nicollet/Loyola 42
  • Martin County West 77  Cleveland 59

Monday boys basketball games:

  • Triton 86  Glenville-Emmons 44
  • Randolph 95  Christian Life Academy 69
  • Spring Grove 74  Decorah, Iowa 62
  • Houston 74  Blooming Prairie 72
Faribault Senior Abby Van Ryn Prepares to Pass the Ball. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Faribault Senior Abby Van Ryn Prepares to Pass the Ball. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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