Falcon Girls Basketball Sees Victory Turn to Defeat

The Faribault Falcon girls basketball team traveled to Northfield on Friday night and led most of the game. The winner, however, isn't determined who leads longest, but by who leads at the end.

Northfield won 36-32 in the nail-biting affair.

The Raiders were without four starters due to injuries or sickness. Northfield honored their seniors and parents before the game, and fittingly a senior led them to the victory. Quinn Hanzlik had 15 second-half points to lead all players on the floor. Hanzlik connected on three three-pointers and was three of five from the free throw line. Her four second-half field goals were more than the entire Faribault team.

The Falcons enjoyed a seven-point lead with a little under three minutes to go in the first half, but the Raiders went on a 6-1 run to end the half and trailed 15-13 at the half. It was a teeter-totter second half, with Faribault leading by four points with 6:36 to go.

Turnovers plagued them down the stretch and Northfield capitalized. Faribault saw Northfield score off three of their final seven turnovers in the game, and it proved to be the difference. The Falcons finished with 15 turnovers and the Raiders eight.

Faribault was 10 for their first 10 from the free throw line in the second half but missed their final three free throws, and it proved costly. Faribault had a chance to tie the game or take the lead, down by two with what appeared to be the final possession of the game, but a turnover ended their hopes and they had to foul after the ball was in-bounded. The free throws were made and Northfield escaped with the hard-fought victory.

The Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault Players of the game were Grace Amacher, who had 11 points, and Elana Palmer, who had four and a handful of rebounds. With the loss, Faribault dropped to 1-19 in the Big Nine and 3-21 overall and Northfield improved to 11-9 in the league and 12-12 overall.

The Raiders lost their leading scorer to a broken collarbone in a car accident, and other starters to a separated shoulder, a knee injury and sickness. Raiders head coach Tony Mathison told Power 96 after the win that he couldn't be happier for some players who didn't get a lot of playing time during the course of the season and were forced into duty and helped secure the victory.