Barnum Tops Undefeated Northwoods To Move Into Section 7A Finals

Click here for the complete game box score

Mar 7, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

UMD- The Barnum Bombers have played in some many big games over the last several seasons so one more on Wednesday night seemed only fitting. Playing in their first Section 7A semi final playoff game since 2007; the Bombers defeated the previously unbeaten Northwoods Grizzles by a score of 56-55.

Claire Rodgers connected on two free throws with 15 seconds remaining to give Barnum a 56-53 lead and a Northwoods basket with one second remaining left the Grizzles one point short as the Bombers advance to the Section 7A finals on Friday night at UMD.

Barnum and Northwoods started slowly on Wednesday night with neither team able to connect on a basket in the early going. The Grizzlies connected first at the 13:37 mark as Amber Zapata connected on two free throws to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead.

The Grizzlies went on a 8-0 run to start the game before the Bombers Daron Mainville connected down low to put the Bombers on the scoreboard and jump start the Barnum offense as they went on a 23-10 run to close out the first half with a five point 23-18 lead.

“We started slowly tonight” Head Coach Randy Myhre told Northland Sports Online, “I don’t know if it was my pre-game speech or not but we came out flat; but once we got going, we got into a nice rhythm.” Myhre added “Coming out and falling behind to a team of their talent shows what character we have.”

The Bombers picked up in the second half when they did to end the first half as they built up 13 point 46-33 lead with six minutes to play. The Grizzlies, being an undefeated team this season showed their grit working themselves back into the game with pressure defense, which forced several late half turnovers.

The Grizzlies fought their way back into the game and cut the lead to 54-53 when Lashae Brooks connected inside with less than a minute to play. Barnum then moved the ball around and tried to kill time off the clock when Claire Rodgers was fouled. When she hit both free throws, the Bombers led 56-53 with 15 seconds to play.

A time out by the Grizzlies set up a play, but when the Grizzlies settled for a driving basket instead of a 3-point shot to tie the game the win was sealed for the Bombers and the unbeaten season for the Grizzlies came to an end Wednesday night.

The Bombers were led Wednesday night by Mainville, who finished with 20 points for the Bombers. Claire Rodgers and Claudia Turner both finished with 15 points each, and Katie Myhre added 6 points in the Bomber victory.

The Grizzlies were led by Darby Youngstrom, who scored 16 points. Lashae Brooks added 13 points, Destinie Villebrun added 11, Amber Zapata 6, Tessa Mankus 5, Rachel Hamstrom and Krystal Broden each finished with 2 points for the Grizzlies.

The Bombers Improve to 24-5 overall on the season, and they advance to the Section 7A championship game on Friday night at UMD. The Bombers will face Mountain Iron-Buhl, who defeated Cook County by a score of 54-35 Wednesday night, also at UMD.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com