Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm Cathedral’s Shay Ubl guards Lexi Toll of Cedar Mountain/Comfrey as she looks to the basket during the first half Tuesday at CHS. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

NEW Ulm — Taylor Rose scored 24 points to help Cedar Mountain/Comfrey defeat New Ulm Cathedral 56-50 on Tuesday in a Tomahawk Conference girls’ basketball contest.

“It was a hard-fought win, and it helps when your shooting well,” CM/C head coach Mike Kelly said.

Kelly noted that his team shot well in the first half. He credited the Greyhound defense for making adjustments, which had his team forcing things at times.

The Greyhounds tied the game early on at 11 on a basket by Jenna Helget.

Rose gave the Cougars a boost when she canned two 3-pointers to regain the lead for CM/C. Heidi Hoffman answered with her own 3-point shot to keep things close.

Lexi Toll scored on an inside shot, Rose hit a 3-pointer and Erica Bock made two baskets for a 26-14 Cougar advantage.

Mckenna Miling had a 3-pointer, Shay Ubl and Jenna Helget added a free throw for the Greyhounds. CM/C got two baskets by Bock and a free throw from Rose that led to the Cougars holding a 34-22 halftime lead.

Toll’s second-chance put-back basket gave CM/C a 42-32 lead early in the second half.

Hoffman’s 3-pointer with 4:35 left brought Cathedral within 9 points at 48-40.

Hoffman then scored on an inside basket to cut CM/C’s advantage to 51-45.

CM/C was able to secure the win by making key free throws down the stretch.

Toll scored 12 points and Bock added 11 points for CM/C. Hoffman led Cathedral with 13 points while Helget and Miling had 11 points each.

“We tried to lock down on some of their key players. Both teams played hard and made a game of it,” Cathedral head coach Dave Wilfahrt said.

CM/C (15-6, 9-6) will travel to Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (17-6, 9-6) on Thursday. Cathedral (5-18, 2-13) will host Nicollet (12-11, 5-3) on Thursday.