Rangers hand Tigers first loss

CROSBY - The Crosby-Ironton Rangers were led by Jana Anderson with 16 points and Missy Foote's 10 in Tuesday's 46-35 victory over the Pine River-Backus Tigers.

Foote added nine rebounds and Sienna Miller seven assists for the Rangers, who shot 50 percent from the field and improved to 6-1 overall.

The Tigers were by Hanna Lemberg, who scored 15 points. Tatum Sheley added seven points for PR-B, which suffered its first loss of the season.

Pine River-Backus 17 18 - 35

Crosby-Ironton 26 20 - 46

PINE RIVER-BACKUS

Tatum Sheley 7, Hannah Lemberg 15, Brittany Kelley 2, Grace Lemberg 2, Katie Wangberg 5, Autumn Ackerman 4. FG 12-54 (22 percent), FT 8-12 (67 percent), 3-point baskets: 3 (Sheley, H. Lemberg 2). Overall: 6-1. Next: vs. Frazee at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley tournament in Walker 4 p.m. Dec. 28.

CROSBY-IRONTON

Cassie Valentino 3, Katie Swanhorst 6, Jana Anderson 16, September Prushek 5, Kendra Perpich 4, Sienna Miller 2, Missy Foote 10. FG 18-36 (50 percent), FT 2-7 (29 percent), 3-point baskets: 8 (Valentino, Swanhorst 2, Anderson 4, Perpich). Overall: 5-1. Next: vs. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle at Pierz tournament 6 p.m. Dec. 28.

Little Falls 59, St. Cloud Apollo 54

LITTLE FALLS - Megan Voss recorded 18 points and five steals as Little Falls won its home opener against St. Cloud Apollo 59-54 in Central Lakes conference basketball Tuesday.

Paige Beseman scored 16 points and Whitney Weisz added 13 for the Flyers.

Little Falls connected on 24 of 29 free throws.

St. Cloud Apollo 21 33 - 54

Little Falls 24 35 - 59

LITTLE FALLS

Kaitlyn Emerson 2, Alyssa Spillum 2, Paige Beseman 16, Megan Voss 18, Makayla Jorgenson 1, Whitney Weisz 13, Annie Ploof 3, Courtney Messinger 4. FT 24-29 (82 percent), 3-point baskets: 1 (Voss). Conference: 1-3. Overall: 2-5. Next: vs. Milaca at Little Falls tournament 1 p.m. Dec. 29.

Pequot Lakes 72, Deer River 47

DEER RIVER - Lueck and Lueck both had big nights for the Pequot Lakes Patriots as Emily Lueck finished with 16 points, five steals and seven assists and younger sister Mattie added 15 points, five steals and seven rebounds in a 72-47 defeat of Deer River Tuesday.

Kylie Beltz added 11 points for the 7-1 Patriots.

Deer River 19 28- 47

Pequot Lakes 44 28- 72

DEER RIVER

Jodie Seelye 2, Kari DeYoung 16, Maija Erzar 4, Raylene Smith 2, Rebeca Rudquist 9, Aspen Marleau 9, Theresa Gotchie 5. FT 5-11 (45 percent), 3-point baskets: 6 (Marleau 3, DeYoung 2, Erzar)

PEQUOT LAKES

Kylie Beltz 11, Katelyn Schmidt 4, Mattie Lueck 15, Kendra Johnson 8, Sarah Thomas 6, Emily Lueck 16, Kayla Wangen 6, Sydney Johnson 6. FT 5-21 (24 percent), 3-point baskets: 3 (E Lueck 2, K Johnson). Overall: 7-1. Next: at Crookston tournament Dec. 28.

Staples-Motley 69, Holdingford 35

STAPLES - The Staples-Motley Cardinals gave up just 11 second-half points leading to a 69-35 non-conference victory over the Holdingford Huskers Tuesday.

The 5-2 Cardinals received 22 points from Kelly Pearson, 18 from Ashley Lisson and 13 points from Nikki Pearson.

Holdingford 24 11 - 35

Staples-Motley 30 39 - 69

HOLDINGFORD

Stephanie Hellman 4, Jena Volkers 5, Nicole Bersheid 9, Anna Bernstetter 2, Rachel Lane 4, Rachel Nelson 11. FT 10-21 (48 percent), 3-point baskets: 1 (Lane). Overall: 2-4.

STAPLES-MOTLEY

Nikki Pearson 13, Kelly Pearson 22, Caitlin Robinson 4, Jennifer Vasquez 5, Ashley Lisson 18, Jasmine McGillvray 5, Kelsey Rice 2. FT 4-6 (67 percent), 3-point baskets: (McGillvray 1, K. Pearson 3, N. Pearson 3). Overall: 5-2. Next: vs. Big Lake at Little Falls tournament 3 p.m. dec. 29.

Verndale 66, Swanville 47

CLARISSA - Laurie Kruchten scored 21 points for the Verndale Pirates, who secured third-place in the Eagle Valley tournament Tuesday by beating Swanville 66-47.

Amber Wendt added 10 points for Verndale.

Swanville 21 26- 47

Verndale 29 37- 66

Lexi Loven 6, Marissa Evans 3, Abbey Schultz 2, Laurie Kruchten 21, Holly Pelzer 1, Tiffany Barthel 4, Lacee Primus 4, Nicole Mortenson 4. FT 7-41 (17 percent).

VERNDALE

Lizzy Yungbauer 6, Trista Finck 8, Elizabeth Johnson 20, Jordy Schluttner 1, Megan Richter 2, Ashley Richter 8, Teresa Moenkedick 7, Amber Wendt 10, Chaitra Collison 4. FT 12-31 (39 percent), 3-point baskets: 2 (Johnson 2). Overall: 2-6. Next: at Browerville 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7.

Pine City 56, Pierz 51

PINE CITY - Amber Preimesberger scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for the Pierz Pioneers in their 56-51 loss to Pine City Tuesday.

The Pioneers were down by eight with less than three minutes and rallied to take the lead only to give it up in the last minute.

Pine City 21 35 - 56

Pierz 22 29 - 51

Kerrie Hughes 5, Laura Linzmeier 15, Jamie Dickey, Gretchen Linzmeier 23, LeTeshia Hedtke 3, Kayla Weiss 8, Karina Nordrum 2. 3-point baskets: 6 (Linsmeier 4, Hedtke, Hughes).

Pierz

Jayme Sczublewski 3, Amber Preimesberger 21, Kelsey Meyer 8, Miranda Przybilla 4, Erin Gritzmacher 2, Cassandra Banick 4, Emily Weber 2, Sarah Schirmers 5, Chelsie Trapp 2. FG 20-57 (37 percent), FT 9-24 (37 percent), 3-point baskets: 2 ( Meyer, Sczublewski). Overall: 2-4. Next: vs. Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity at Pierz tournament 8 p.m. Dec. 28.

Eagle Valley 68, Pillager 57

CLARISSA - The Pillager Huskies could not overcome a seven-point halftime deficit to the Eagle Valley Rebels, as they lost to host Eagle Valley in the championship game of the Eagle Valley tournament 68-57 Tuesday.

Jackie White led the Huskies with 17 points and Kaylie Hanson scored 13.

Eagle Valley 34 34 - 68

Pillager 27 30 - 57

EAGLE VALLEY

Taalyr Egeness 18, Danielle Pratt 2, Christen Long 12, Sierra Benning 22, Brooke Schumann 6, Cassandra Bernath 8. FT 12-23(52 percent).

PILLAGER

Kaylie Hanson 13, Jackie White 17, Alexa Fletcher 2, Jessica Kadus 10, Kayla Rardin 6, Shauna Maurer 9. FT 17-29(59 percent), 3-point baskets: (White 2 ). Overall: 3-5. Next: vs. Eagle Valley at Upsala Holiday Tournament 4:30 p.m. Monday. Bertha-Hewitt 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5.