PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Raiders defeat Knights

WORTHINGTON — Rachel Cheadle made seven baskets and sank 7 of 9 free throws on her way to 21 points for the Fulda Raiders in a 70-57 win over the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights during the quarterfinal round of the Class A Girls’ Basketball Section 3 South Division Tournament Saturday.

“We played R-T-R earlier in the season, so we were confident but not cocky,” Fulda center Rachel Cheadle said. “We knew they were a good team and that we would have to battle the whole time. And that is what it turned out to be.”

The Knights kept it close throughout the first half, never trailing by more than eight points throughout. But by the end of the half, the Raiders held a 33-26 lead heading into the locker room.

“We had some chances in the first half to maybe close the gap,” R-T-R coach Darin Dahle said, “but the first 10 minutes of the game we gave up way too many offensive rebounds and lose balls and Fulda got them all. They out hustled us in the first 10 minutes.”

Fulda didn’t let R-T-R hang around very long in the second half, going on a 12-4 run right out of the locker room.

“In the second half, we started running the floor a lot better and getting more layups too,” Hermeling said. “We also started boxing out better and not allowing them to get as many second chances.”

Hermeling got things started by nailing back-to-back 3’s to push the Raiders lead to 13 less than 2 minutes into the half. Cheadle picked up three points on a layup and a free throw and Courtney Tiesler put in a layup during the run.

“We have some very confident players and we are going to shoot the ball when we are open and we are going to knock down shots,” Fulda coach Gregg Slaathaug said. “I never doubted that the girls would come through.”

Aside from her 21 points, Cheadle grabbed 16 rebounds to complete her double-double, while Hermeling ended the game with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

“They had some shooters knock down some big shots in the second half to help them pull away,” Dahle said. “Cheadle played very well for them tonight, both of them. Those girls can shot the ball and they know how to play basketball over there.”

Kaylie Neilsen led the Knights with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists to go along with nine points from Janel Wichern and Justine Possail.

Fulda (19-8) takes on top-seeded Wabasso Tuesday in the Section 3 Southern Division semifinals at 6 p.m. in Worthington.

Daily Globe Reporter Jordan Willi

may be reached at 376-7335.

FULDA 70,

RUSSELL-TYLER-RUTHTON 57

R-T-R (15-9): Nielsen 6 2-2 14; Wichern 3 3-4 9; J. Possail 4 1-2 9; Pochardt 3 1-4 8; Strand 3 0-2 6; S. Possail 1 2-4 5; Willert 1 1-2 3; Schaefer 1 0-0 2; Brust 0 1-2 1. Totals: 23 11-25 57.

FULDA (19-8) Hermeling 3 6-10 15; Schumacher 1 0-0 3; Tiesler 4 0-0 9; Gehl 3 3-5 8; R. Cheadle 7 7-9 21; Williams 1 1-1 3; S. Cheadle 2 2-2 7. Totals: 21 20-29 70.

R-T-R 26 31 — 57

Fulda 33 37 — 70

3-Point Goals: R-T-R 2 (Pochardt, S. Possail); Fulda 7 (Hermeling 3, Schumacher, Tiesler, Gehl, S. Cheadle). Total Fouls (Fouled Out): Fulda 20 (R. Cheadle, S. Cheadle). Turnovers: R-T-R 11, Fulda 13.

Tags: sports, prep, girls, basketball, fulda