Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Wabasso defenders Madison Guetter and Gina Goblirsch try to block a shot from Sleepy Eye’s Madison Krueger (1) during the second half Friday in Sleepy Eye. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye and Wabasso each held a five-game win streak coming to Friday, but it was the Rabbits who picked up a 75-63 win over the Indians in Tomahawk Conference girls’ basketball action Friday night.

The Rabbits are now 7-2 in conference play, tied with the Indians at 7-2. Sleepy Eye’s conference losses are both to Wabasso.

“It is a big win for us,” Wabasso coach Neil Dolan said. “We have not beaten them here in four years. It was a great team effort and give credit to all the kids who stepped on the floor for us tonight.”

Wabasso shooters hit early in the first half to lead 11-8 with more than 13 minutes left to play.

The Indians closed the gap, trailing 14-13, and tied the game up with just over six minutes left to play in the first half.

Wabasso’s Jenna Frank drained a 3-pointer from deep in the corner to put the Rabbits back in the lead 22-19.

Sleepy Eye’s Madi Heiderscheidt drove an open lane with five minutes left to play in the first and hit a jump shot from down low to bring the Indians back within 3 points. Heiderscheidt hit a 3-pointer from way beyond the arc to knot the score up at 24-24.

Wabasso’s Frank answered with another 3-pointer as the Rabbits again retook the lead. The Rabbits led 36-32 at the half.

“Sixty three points should be enough for us, but we gave up 20 offensive rebounds and that was the big difference tonight against a good basketball team,” Sleepy Eye coach Ryan Hulke said.

With 8:01 left to play, Wabasso’s Madi Guetter pulled down an offensive rebound and put it back up and in inside as the Rabbits took their biggest lead of the game at 59-48.

Wabasso held the Indians from scoring for over four and a half minutes, keeping them locked at 48 points.

Sleepy Eye’s Mya Ibberson found new life in the Indians scoring by netting consecutive 3-pointers to bring the score 59-54 still in favor of Wabasso.

The Rabbits again held a 10-point lead with over four minutes left to play with Gina Goblirsch hitting a 3-pointer and Lindsey Bernardy adding a field goal.

“[Goblirsch] hit two big 3s for us tonight, she is a good shooter and it is those unsung plays that help us win, along with rebounding and the kids inside,” Dolan said. “[Sleepy Eye] is a physical team, that is their M.O. and our girls matched that for a great win.”

Heiderscheidt led the Indians with 16 points with six assists, Brianna Polesky had 12 points, Madison Krueger had 10 points with five rebounds and McKenzie Cselovszki tallied 8 points with six rebounds.

Wabasso’s Guetter led with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Frank tallied 19 points, Bernardy had 10 points with nine assists and Goblirsch ended with 9 points and eight rebounds.

Sleepy Eye will host St. James Area at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Wabasso will travel on Monday to Minneota for a 7:30 p.m. game.