Team to host winner of LP-A, Park Christian

Photo by Tasha Gesier
Moriah Geiser goes up for a shot during last week’s Park Region Conference game against Verndale.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

New York Mills will get a bit of home cooking when the sub section tournament opens this week.

The Eagles, who are 15-9 on the season, received the third seed in the sub section tournament, and will play the winner of either sixth seeded Lake Park-Auduon and 11th seeded Park Christian on Thursday at 7 p.m. in NY Mills. 

The winner of Thursday’s game will take on either second seeded Henning or the winner of seventh seeded Ada-Borup and 10th seeded Rothsay in Perham.

On the other side of the sub section, top seeded Underwood will take on either eighth seeded Hillcrest or ninth seeded Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal, while fourth seeded Breckenridge will take on fifth seeded Battle Lake.

Bella Bauck and Maya Radniecki attempt to steal a ball during last week’s game against Verndale.

The sub section tournament semi-finals will be played on Saturday at either 1 p.m. or 2:45 p.m. in Perham, while the sub section championship game will take place on March 9 at 7 p.m. in Perham. 

The Section 6A championship game will be played on Friday, March 11 at Fergus Falls High School. The championship game will begin at 7 p.m.

Feb. 14

NY Mills held Henning to just 11 points in the second half as the Eagles blew past the Hornets by a score of 52-36 on Feb. 14. 

The Eagles held a slim 26-25 lead at halftime, before a strong defensive effort in the final 18 minutes pushed the Eagles over the top.

Ayla Olson led the way offensively for the Eagles as she scored 22 points, while Alayna Baune joined her in double figures with 10 points. Bella Bauck chipped in with 8 points, while Moriah Geiser scored 6, Megan Riedel scored 4 and Kailey Keskitalo rounded out the scoring with 2 points.

Feb. 15

Bella Bauck hit four 3-pointers in the second half as the Eagles won their third straight game on Feb. 15 by a score of 62-50.

Bauck finished the game with 23 points, including 17 points in the second half alone. NY Mills led by a score of 27-17 at halftime.

Joining Bauck in the scoring column was Ayla Olson who scored 13 points, while Alayna Baune and Moriah Geiser each scored 8 points and Maya Radniecki hit a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 6 points. Kailey Keskitalo and Megan Riedel each scored 2 points to round out the scoring. 

Feb. 17

NY Mills won for the fifth time in its last six games on Feb. 17 as the Eagles defeated Lake Park-Audubon by a score of 71-47 in non-conference action.

Mackenzie Gilster tries to steal the ball during last week’s game against Verndale.

The Eagles held a 33-29 lead at halftime, before once again shutting down the Raiders offense in the second half. Three Eagles reached double figures in the game with Bella Bauck once again leading the way with 22 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the first half. Ayla Olson scored 16 points and Megan Riedel scored 14 points to also reach double figures.

Alayna Baune scored 8 points, Maya Radniecki hit a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 6 points, Moriah Geiser scored 3 points and Annika Dunrud rounded out the scoring with 2 points. 

Thursday

NY Mills clinched a share of second place in the Park Region Conference with a commanding 59-24 win over Verndale on Thursday. The Eagles finished the conference portion of their schedule with a record of 9-5 to tie Henning, Pillager and Wadena-Deer Creek for runner up honors. Menahga won the conference with a record of 14-0.

The Eagles wasted little time on Thursday as they opened a 34-13 lead at halftime and gave up just four field goals in the second half.

NY Mills was led offensively by Ayla Olson who scored 15 points, while Moriah Geiser scored 11 points and Bella Bauck chipped in with 10 points. Megan Riedel finished with 8 points, while Kailey Keskitalo scored 5, Alayna Baune scored 4 and Annika Dunrud and Maya Radniecki each hit a 3-pointer to finish with 3 points.

Friday

Just one night after wrapping up their conference schedule, the Eagles hosted Underwood in their final regular season game of the year. NY Mills jumped out to a 28-26 lead over the eventual top seed in the sub section, but couldn’t hang on in the second half as Underwood was able to do just enough down the stretch to hold off the Eagles by a score of 60-44.

Ayla Olson led the charge for the Eagles as she scored 14 points, including 10 in the first half, while Bella Bauck added 11. Megan Riedel scored 7 points, McKenzie Gilster and Maya Radniecki each scored 3 points, Moriah Geiser and Alayna Baune chipped in with 2 points apiece and Kailey Keskitalo scored 1 point to round out the scoring.