Bombers Come Up Just Short In Section Title Game

Wes Vork-NSO

Click here for the complete game box score

For additional photos click here to view our complete photo gallery

Mar 9, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

UMD- Friday night at UMD the Barnum Bombers were hoping to recapture the glory they had enjoyed while playing for four seasons in section play in Section 5A and enjoying three state tournament appearances; but on Friday it was the Rangers of Mountain Iron-Buhl who came from behind to down Barnum by a score of 47-42 and advance to their second straight state tournament.

The Rangers started out fast Friday night jumping out to a 5-0 lead as the Bombers struggled to find their rhythm offensively. With Barnum trailing 5-0 Claire Rodgers put Barnum on the board as she connected on two free throws which started a Bombers 9-0 run. Four players scored for Barnum as they led 9-5 and they continued to roll as they eventually built a lead of 10 points twice in the first half.

The three-ball helped the Bombers a lot in the first half Friday night as Katie Myhre connected three times and the Rodgers sisters each hit once to help the Bombers build a seven point, 27-20 lead at halftime. The first half, which seemed to be going Barnum’s direction, saw its momentum end quickly as Claire Rodgers fell to the floor and hurt her ankle, which would slow her down in the second half. Daron Mainville, Barnum’s only inside presence pick up her third foul with 02 seconds remaining in the half to further hinder the cause.

Barnum’s seven point halftime lead was erased quickly as Dakotah Winans and Sarah Overbye both hit 3-pointers to cut the Barnum lead to one point with less than a minute gone in the second half. The Rangers had the momentum and when Mainville picked up her fourth foul early in the half, the Rangers continued to work the ball inside and with 6:21 remaining in the second half Mainville picked up her fifth foul and was done for the night.

The Rangers tied the game at 21-21 and eventually took the lead at 32-31 and never looked back. Barnum who trailed by as many as six down the stretch, fought their way back to trail by one point at 43-42 and had the ball with less than a minute to play. But a turnover led to a foul, which put the Rangers on the free throw line and they connected to seal the five point win Friday night at UMD.

The Bombers season ends with a 25-6 overall record, as they come up just short in the section title game for the second consecutive season. A year ago they fell to Sebeka in the Section 5A championship game.

Barnum was led by Claire Rodgers and Katie Myhre, who both finished with 11 points on the night. Daron Mainville added 9, Claudia Turner finished with 8, and it was Caitlin Rodgers scoring three in the loss for Barnum. The Rangers improve to 29-1 and they advance to the state tournament next week in Minneapolis.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com