PELICAN RAPIDS – The Wadena-Deer Creek girls basketball team continued their improbable run to the Section 8AA championship game with a one-point upset of the Pelican Rapids Vikings Saturday night.
The No. 11-seeded Wolverines pulled out a gutsy 48-47 win on the No. 6-seeded Vikings' home court. They improved to 17-11 on the season.
The victory avenged a three-point 38-35 loss to the Vikings on Jan. 24, and propelled Wadena-Deer Creek into a section semifinal game versus the No. 2-seeded Thief River Falls Prowlers at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Detroit Lakes High School.
On Saturday, it was Addyson Gravelle who led the Wolverines to victory, scoring 19 points and hitting five 3-pointers. Montana Carsten added 9 points, and Madison Carsten 7, in a game that saw six WDC players score.
The Vikings were led by a balanced scoring attack. Ellie Welch led with 16 points, and was followed by Anna Roisum (11), Morgan Korf (9), Kelsey Isaman (8) and Hazel Haugrud (3).
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The Vikings took the lead into halftime at 29-26, but their offense faltered in the second half. And the Wolverines pulled ahead on the power of four 3-pointers and 4-of-5 shooting from the free-throw line in the second half.
The game came just days after the Wolverines handed the sixth-seeded Hawley Nuggets a stunning 14-point defeat Thursday night in the first round of the Section 8AA tournament.
The winner of the Thief River Falls versus Wadena-Deer Creek matchup will play the winner of the No. 1-seeded Perham versus No. 5-seeded Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton game. Perham and DGF play at 6 p.m. prior to the Wolverines game, also at Detroit Lakes High School.
WADENA-DEER CREEK – 26 22 – 48
PELICAN RAPIDS – 29 18 - 47
WADENA-DEER CREEK – Addyson Gravelle: 19 points; Montana Carsten: 9 points; Jada Dykhoff: 5 points; Ally Pavek: 2 points; Madison Carsten: 7 points; Payton Gravelle: 6 points.
PELICAN RAPIDS – Kelsey Isaman: 8 points; Hazel Haugrud: 3 points; Morgan Korf: 9 points; Anna Roisum: 11 points; Ellie Welch: 16 points.
