WAGNER RECLAIMS LMVC TITLE

The Lady Raiders traveled to Lake Andes to take on the ACDC Thunder last Thursday night in girls basketball action. The game would start in a sea-saw battle with both teams taking lead changes in the early minutes. Halfway through the first quarter Wagner would go on a 10-0 run to hold a 2116 advantage after the first period. Wagner would pour in the points in the second quarter racking up 27 to take a 48-30 lead into half. The Raiders wouldn’t score until half the quarter elapsed in the 3rd as shots would go in and out. Wagner would still hold a 56-42 lead. Both teams would score 14 in the 4th quarter and Wagner would win 70-56 and be lone LMVC Conference champions for the 3rd straight year. Wagner would shoot 25-54 from the field for 46% while the Thunder would 22-58 for 37%. Wagner would get out rebounded 30-29 on the glass. Both teams would commit 15 turnovers. Wagner would go perfect from the charity stripe 15-15 while ACDC would go 4-9. Ashlyn Koupal would pour in 37 points, grab 13 boards, block 6 shots, grab 3 steals, and dish out 3 assists. Macy Koupal would follow that with 25 points, 8 boards, and 5 assists. Lydia Yost would finish 3 points, 4 boards, and dish out 3 assists. Braxton Nedved would chase their best player again all night and cause fits for the Thunder on the defensive end. She would finish with 3 points, and dish out 4 assists. Hayden Knudsen would round out the scoring with 2 points, and 2 boards. “Offensively we did a great job in transition. The guards pushed the ball and we got post buries for one on one opportunities. The shots just didn’t fall from the perimeter like they did on Tuesday at Hanson but there were so many that were in and out! Defensively we were a bit off and just didn’t do a great job of keeping them out of the paint. They hit some open looks where we left people open as that will happen when we are defensive scheming that way. We did give them 10 offensive rebounds where we only got 6. This has been a stretch now where we have played our 5th game in 8 days dating back to Jan. 25. It’s the point of the season where the wear and tear starts to play a little bit in the equation. Practices now will be short to the point and the girls have to get their rest on the off days!”