Recording history

For the first time in school history the Crosby-Ironton Rangers girls' basketball team is headed to the Class 2A state tournament.

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That's thanks to a 52-46 thrilling overtime victory over the rival Pequot Lakes Patriots in the Section 7 final at Brainerd High School Friday.

The Rangers were 8-of-12 from the foul line in the extra frame and senior point guard Kim Rosecrans scored six of her game-high 24 points to seal the win.

"Kim Rosecrans has spent five years with me, four years as a varsity starter, and she has been through everything imaginable," said Rangers coach Randy Swanhorst. "That kid has played against fantastic players and took every single opportunity we offered in the summer to make herself better. She just made the most of her senior year."

Rosecrans finished with 18 in the second half, but none was more important than her only field goal in overtime. Down 44-42, Rosecrans scored to tie it. From there, C-I went on an 8-2 run. The Patriots shot just 1-of-6 in overtime and were 2-of-5 from the foul line.

Pequot finished shooting 28 percent from the field and 56 percent from the line because of C-I's stifling defense. The Rangers concentrated on Pequot star center Teresa Parker.

"Teresa Parker is a fantastic player," said Swanhorst. "We just had to make other kids win the basketball game for them. They had some kids who stepped up and did their part to get it done."

Parker finished with seven points. Chelsa Schwegel led Pequot with 14 points. Flecia Foster scored 13. Mandie Roggenkamp's 10 points kept Pequot close. Kristin Willer's two points sent the game into overtime when she drained a jumper with 48 seconds left.

"We were trying to do a triangle and two and cover Foster and Schwegel and let the other players shoot from the outside," said Rangers forward Maggie Sandberg. "It was working until we backed down too low. Mandie Roggenkamp stepped up and did a really good job for Pequot."

After a timeout, Pequot had 28.9 seconds to win in regulation. With the time down to 11 seconds, the Rangers' defense again stiffened and stole the ball, preventing Pequot from attempting a shot.

"I thought we had a really good shot at getting that game-winner," said Pequot coach Bill Larson. "We pushed the ball down to Teresa. We were supposed to get a flash across the lane. We just ran the wrong play and they collapsed down like they had been."

C-I senior center Whitney Smetana added 11 points and Ranger underclassmen played their roles.

Angie Gaviglio knocked down two 3-pointers in the second quarter, helping the Rangers to a 21-17 halftime lead. Angel Adams and Sandberg combined for five third-quarter points, helping C-I maintain its four-point lead. Chelsea Lundgren knocked down a free throw in overtime, putting the Rangers up 48-45.

"Everybody did what they were supposed to do," said Gaviglio. "Every situation we could have possibly been in the coaches told us what to do. It was a team win and everybody was a part of it."

Pequot Lakes 6 11 15 10 4 -- 46

Crosby-Ironton 9 12 15 6 10 -- 52

PEQUOT LAKES

Flecia Foster 13, Teresa Parker 7, Chelsa Schwegel 14, Mandie Roggenkamp 10, Kristin Willer 2. Team totals: FG 17-61 (28 percent), FT 9-16 (56 percent), 3-point baskets: 2-9 (Roggenkamp 1, Foster 1). Final Overall -- 17-9.

CROSBY-IRONTON

Kim Rosecrans 24, Whitney Smetana 11, Angie Gaviglio 6, Angel Adams 5, Maggie Sandberg 3, Chelsea Lundgren 3. Team totals: FG 14-52 (27 percent), FT 20-39 (69 percent), 3-point baskets: 4-11 (Gaviglio 2, Rosecrans 1, Sandberg 1). Overall -- 18-8. Next game: vs. New Richland/Hartland/Ellendale/Geneva at Target Center in Minneapolis 6 p.m. Wednesday in state Class 2A quarterfinals.