Indees hold on to beat Cashton, go cold vs. Mel-Min

The Independence/Gilmanton girls basketball team made clutch shots to pick up one win but went cold down the stretch in its first loss of the season.

The Indees led by 10 early in the second half against Cashton then made several baskets down the stretch to hold on for a 46-43 win last week Monday. On Thursday, I/G was in the game late but managed just three points in the final five minutes of a 67-55 road loss to Melrose-Mindoro.

I/G began this week with a 3-1 record before hosting Augusta in Gilmanton on Tuesday. The team welcomes Osseo-Fairchild to Independence on Friday before two road games next week, first at Eleva-Strum on Tuesday and then at Alma/Pepin on Friday.  

I/G 46 Cashton 43

The Indees hit clutch shots and got stops when needed to top Cashton last Monday.

After taking a 22-17 lead into halftime, I/G took a 10-point lead on a three-pointer by Arabelle Kniseley early in the second half. The Eagles fired right back, scoring nine straight points. The game remained a one-possession affair for most of the second half. 

The Indees got some breathing room as Anna Kent and Avery Halama both hit three-pointers, the second of which made the score 33-28. Cashton scored five straight points to tie the game, but Kniseley hit a three and then a long two-point jumper to put I/G ahead 38-33. 

Cashton got back within one at 40-39 as the teams exchanged baskets for the rest of the game. Four missed free throws made the game interesting in the final minute. Cashton had three chances to tie the game but missed all three shots.

Kniseley scored a game-high 24 points for the Indees, while Kent added 11.

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Kent 4/9-1/4-3-1-11 Halama 1/2-0/0-0-0-3 Kniseley 7/14-8/10-7-3-24 Sheahan 1/11-0/0-2-0-2 Schank 0/7-6/10-8-3-6 T. Sylla 0/1-0/0-1-1-0 C. Kampa 0/2-0/0-4-5-0 

Mel-Min 67 I/G 55

After taking a lead into halftime, the Indees couldn’t keep up in the second half. 

Rielynn Sheahan beat the buzzer to give the Indees a 32-29 advantage at the intermission, but the team struggled offensively in the second half.

The Mustangs opened the second half with a 10-2 run then took a 12-point lead on a three-pointer with about 12 minutes left to play. That three was part of a 10-0 run that put Mel-Min ahead 49-35.

The Indees made a strong push. Sheahan knocked down another three then a long jumper to bring I/G back within nine. Kniseley then made consecutive three-pointers to bring I/G within three at 49-36 with about nine minutes remaining. Nora Schank then drove to the basket for a layup to make it a one-point game. 

The Mel-Min lead was still at one with about five-and-a-half minutes remaining, but the Indees would only score three more points the rest of the way. The Mustangs scored seven straight to regain control and I/G couldn’t respond.

Kniseley scored 20 the lead the Indees while Schank had 13 and Sheahan finished with 11.

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Kent 3/8-0/0-2-2-7 Halama 0/1-0/0-0-0-0 Kniseley 6/12-6/9-9-3-20 Sheahan 4/15-1/4-4-4-11 Schank 5/8-3/5-11-5-13 S. Kampa 0/0-0/0-1-1-0 Sylla 1/1-0/0-1-1-0 Ekern 01/0/0-0-0-0 C. Kampa 1/1-0/0-1-3-2