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West knocks out New Ulm

Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm’s Joey Batt (1) goes up for a shot as Mankato West’s Holly Wiste defends durign Section 2AAA playoff action Saturday at Minnesota State University Mankato.

MANKATO — Despite New Ulm matching the second half scoring with each team putting up 36 points in the half, the Eagles lost to Mankato West 65-53 in a girls’ Section 2AAA playoff basketball game Saturday night.

Joey Batt hit 18 of her 26 points in the second half to lead the Eagles but the effort fell short as the Scarlets (20-7) grabbed a big lead in the first half.

West defeated New Ulm earlier in the season to complete the season sweep.

Mankato West moves on to the Section 2AAA championship game while New Ulm ends its season with a 20-7 overall record.

West was able to gain the early momentum, grabbing a 10-2 lead by hitting from 3-point land early on before taking the ball inside against New Ulm.

With 6:32 left in the first half, the Eagles began to cut into the Scarlett lead with Batt recording a steal, driving in for two followed by another Scarlett turnover and Batt again driving in with little contested defense.

The Eagles’ Iyanna Wieland and Hannah Osborne hit late 3s, in the first half, to recharge the Eagle offense, trailing 29-17 at the half.

Osborne tallied a steal, with 7:31 left to play in the ball game, hitting Batt down low for the lay-up, bringing the Eagles within 7-points. New Ulm was inside a 5-point deficit, with just under 6 minutes to play in the game, before West got a hot hand in the final minutes.

Batt brought her team again to within 6 points on free throws with 5 minutes to play.

West answered the call with dominant shooting from the line to widen the margin and keep New Ulm’s victory chances out of sight. Mankato hit 17 of 19 from the free throw line during the second half.

New Ulm’s Morgan Eikanger had 8 points, going 4-of-6 from the line and Osborne scored 7 points.

Mankato’s Ashley Gustavson had 19 points going 9 for 9 from the line and Clarie Hemstock hit 11 points off the bench.

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