South Ridge girls open season with win over Cherry

Photos by: Paula Gellalty

NSO

The South Ridge Panthers Girls Basketball team opened their season at home with a win over the Cherry Tigers.

The Panthers started out strong and led the entire game.

The Tigers fought back in the second half and came as close as eight points, but the Panthers pulled together as a team and came home with the win.

Fourth year Head Coach Brad Olesiak was very pleased with how the girls did last night.

“This is the first time since I started coaching Varsity that we have beat Cherry,” Said Olesiak, “it was a very nice way to start the season.”

The Panthers were led Offensively by Junior Mikayla Olesiak with a career high 27 points and nine rebounds. First time starter Freshman RyAnna Anvid added a whopping 20 points and six rebounds.

Defensively Justice Janke led the team with 14 steals, and also added eight points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Lindsey Janke added eight points and eight rebounds and Krystal Karppinen eneded the night with seven points and six rebounds. Mallory Thibault had four points on the night.

Cherry was led by Mikala Kowarsch with 10 points, Diana Clement added nine points, and Alexis Kudis ended the night with seven points.

The Panthers start out 1-0 and play again Thursday at Wrenshall at 7:15 p.m. Cherry will play at Greenway on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.

CHERRY 25-26  51

SOUTH RIDGE 39-35  74

CHERRY — Mikala Kowarsch 10, Diana Clement 9, Alexis Kudis 7, Joely Roberts 6, Makayla Goerdt 6, Heidi Olson 5, Abby Mayry 3, Hannah Carlson 3, Katie Lind 2. 3-point goals — Olson, Roberts, Kowarsch.

SOUTH RIDGE — Mikayla Olesiak 27, RyAnna Anvid 20, Justice Janke 8, Lindsey Janke 8, Krystal Karppinen 7, Mallory Thibault 4. 3-point goals — Olesiak 5, Karppinen, L Janke.