UW-Superior 67, Bethany Lutheran 60

MANKATO, Minn. (February 10, 2018) – The Bethany Lutheran Vikings saw a four-point lead heading into the final quarter Saturday afternoon, but a few clutch layups and free throws from the Yellowjackets helped pull out the win on the road.

Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) was first to get on the scoreboard for the Yellowjackets, getting the layup on a pass from Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) after a Viking turnover. Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior) then found two straight jumpers to get the lead back to 6-5, and Brittany Laehn (Gilmanton, Wis./Gilmanton) would help extend it to 12-7 at 2:44. The final basket of the period was a 3-pointer from sharpshooter Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled), assisted by Laehn, to make it 15-9 after one.

The Vikings made a small run to start the quarter, getting it to 17-14, but two baskets in the paint from Larson and Norlin got the lead to 21-14. The Vikings then found the lead after a 8-0 run at 3:23, and then answered a game-tying free throw from Kontny with eight points, but the 'Jackets fought back to make it a 29-26 deficit at halftime.

The third saw back-and-fourth buckets from both teams, as the Vikings held a lead until 5:42 when Taylor Kane (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) hit two free throws to tie the game at 34, and then a 2-point jumper at 4:21, assisted by Larson, to get a two point lead. Norlin and Larson would again get buckets thereafter, putting 42 points on the board after three quarter, but the Vikings owned 46.

The final quarter saw the highest offensive output of the game for the 'Jackets; Jade Tucker (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) would a Larson-assisted, 2-point jumper to begin the quarter, and Konnty would get to the rim at 8:43 to make it just a three-point game.

The key basket came at the 6:17 mark as Superior took the lead after Amelia Leger (Andover, Minn./Andover) fed the ball to Tucker for the score. A flurry of points from both teams then tied the game at 56 with 4:29 remaining; the following possession for the 'Jackets would prove to be the game-winning basket, as Norlin found a layup to make it 56-54.

Larson and Norlin continued to be a force down the stretch, getting 61 on the board on layups and free throws, and Tucker would add a Larson-asssisted layup at 2:05 to get a five-point lead. Larson and Leger added the final free throws in the final 20 seconds, producing the 20th win of the season for Superior.

Norlin was the leading scorer for the Yellowjackets, getting 20 points on the night. Larson and Kontny both finished with double-doubles as Larson had 14 points and 11 assists, while Kontny had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Tucker put in nine points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting.

The Vikings' Brooke Henning had 21 points to lead all scorers, and Haley Sandin scored 16.

Superior will play their final regular-season game Feb. 17 when they host the North Central Rams at 5 p.m.