MARSHALL - The ability to knock down perimeter shots was the difference Monday night in the section 3A South final between Wabasso and Southwest Minnesota Christian, with the Rabbits edging the Eagles 60-56.
Buckets in the paint were at a premium as both sides played great interior defense. Wabasso’s advantage came from behind the arc, draining six three-pointers as opposed to the Eagles’ one.
Becky Franta (15 points) and Jocelyn Rothmeier (11 points) headed the Rabbits’ outside effort. The two combined for five of Wabasso’s six 3’s.
With Wabasso showing the ability to score outside, SWC was forced to extend its defense. This, in turn, opened up the inside for Morgan Frank who scored all 18 of her points in the paint.
Frank gave all the credit for her offensive success to Wabasso’s guard play.
“The guards passing was on,” she said. “Kacie Rothmeier was solid. In the end it all comes to the guards seeing you down there.”
“Solid” was a great word to describe Rothmeier’s effort. She was the maestro that orchestrated Wabasso’s offense. Whether it was setting up an offensive set in the half-court or breaking SWC’s press and finding a pass in transition, Rothmeier was cool and composed.
Rothmeier capped her night off with nine points.
“Southwest Christian is a fantastic team,” said Wabasso head coach Neil Dolan, “Our girls played hard and we shot well.”
Dolan praised his team’s perimeter defense, saying, “We knew we had to take (Alexis Knutson) away. We had to be aware of where they were at all times. We played tremendous D.”
Top-seeded SWC was led in scoring by Hope Veldkamp and Savannah Tinklenberg with 11 points each. Cassie Groen and Alexis Knutson added nine apiece.
SWC ends its season with a respectable record of 23-4.
Wabasso (19-9) will square off with Minneota - which beat Central Minnesota Christian 67-53 Monday - at 5 p.m. Thursday in Marshall.
Wabasso 21 60
SWC 17 56
Wabasso (3PT-2PT-FT-TP) - J. Goblirsch 1-0-1-4, Wotschke 0-1-1-3, Franta 3-2-2-15, J. Rothmeier 2-2-1-11, K. Rothmeier 0-2-5-9, Frank 0-9-0-18. Totals 6-16-10-60.
SWC (3PT-2PT-FT-TP) - Buys 0-1-0-2, Veldkamp 0-5-1-11, Pater 0-1-0-2, Ca. Groen 0-3-3-9, Knutson 1-3-0-9, Tinklenberg 0-3-5-11, Talsma 0-2-0-4, Ch. Groen 0-0-3-3, Top 0-2-1-5. Totals 1-20-13-56.
