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Jaguars prove too tough for Tigers

Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Springfield’s Vishe’ Rabb (21) attempts a layup during the first half of the Tigers’ Section 2A playoff game against Granada Huntley East Chain-Truman-Martin Luther Tuesday at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

ST. PETER — Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther’s front court was too much for Springfield to handle on Tuesday.

The Jaguars defeated the Tigers 57-48 in the girls’ Section 2A, South Subsection championship game.

Vishe Rabb led the Tigers with 27 points, while Shylyn Lothert added eight.

Hannah Geistfeld led the Jaguars with 17 points, while Kenlie Pytleski had 16.

Geistfeld, who stands 6-foot and the 6-foot-1 Pytleski were difficult for the Tigers to contain under the hoop all night, getting several free throws and points in the paint. Springfield also struggled knocking down shots consistently throughout the game.

“We just couldn’t get shots to fall,” Tigers coach Brandon Wilhelmi said. “They had some big girls, they’re well coached to do the right things and they got some baskets. We were fortunate to hit some 3-pointers in the last few games — tonight we just didn’t hit very many of them. We had a tough time getting inside against their big girls and you’ve got to hand it to them. They’re a good team.”

Springfield tied the game up at 10-10 early on after a jumper from Cassandra Hammerschmidt. Minutes later, a mid-range shot from Rabb gave Springfield its first lead of the game at 16-15.

The lead was brief, though, as the Jaguars then scored five points in a row to lead 20-16. The Jaguars pulled out to a 27-20 halftime lead.

The Tigers started off the second half on the right foot, as Lothert got a 3-pointer to bounce in, which trimmed the deficit to four. A 3-pointer by Allyson Cegelske extended the Jaguars lead to 39-30 with less than nine minutes to play.

Springfield continued to battle and with less than seven minutes to go, Rabb took the ball inside for a bucket that cut the deficit to 43-37. With time ticking away, Rabb hit a 3 that brought the Tigers deficit to 51-44, but the Jaguars made several key free throws afterwords to put the game out of reach.

Wilhelmi said that he enjoyed having an amazing senior class this year that kept practice loose and fun, but also went about the game the right way.

Springfield ends its season at 18-11.

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