File photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm Cathedral’s Mataya Nelson takes a shot during a home game on Feb. 8 at Cathedral High School.

By Jeff Meder

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Cathedral girls’ basketball team survived to play another day as the Greyhounds defeated Cedar Mountain 61-38 on Tuesday in the first round of Section 2A tournament action.

The Cougars ended their season 2-14.

Cathedral was seeded No. 8, while the Cougars were the No. 9 seed. During the regular season, the squads split, meaning that Monday’s contest would end the season for one of them.

The road does not get any easier for Cathedral (2-13) as the Greyhounds will face a formidable opponent: No. 1 seed Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (18-0) on Wednesday at St. Mary’s.

Teresa Larsen got Cedar Mountain’s first points when she made two free throws. Emily Schommer answered for the Greyhounds with a 3 to give them the lead for good. Sarah Mohr scored and Lily Franta scored on a fast-break layup off a Cougar turnover.

Mohr passed the ball to Franta, who scored on a layup for a 12-4 Greyhound lead. Schommer was responsible for 6 of her team’s 12 points during that stretch.

The Greyhounds used a full-court press which led to Cougar turnovers and Greyhound baskets. Cathedral double-teamed when possible.

The Cougars tried to use a press. Livia Reinarts was able to get behind their defense for a Cathedral backdoor basket.

One drawback to Cathedral’s aggressive defensive style were fouls. The Greyhounds incurred five team fouls with 12:00 left in the first half. They ended the half with 12 fouls to only four by CM.

The Cougars fought back by trying to work the basketball inside to either score or draw a foul. The result was CM making trips to the free-throw line.

Jenna Hotovec came off the bench for Cathedral, and she made her presence known when she nailed a 3 midway through the half. She added another 3 with about 3:00 remaining to keep the Greyhounds comfortably ahead.

Emma Sullivan scored a basket to bring the Cougars within 11 points. Schommer answered with a basket and a free throw for a 35-21 Cathedral advantage at halftime.

Schommer started Cathedral off on the right foot to open the second half. She scored on a full-court fast-break layup off a Cougar turnover. On the next play, she pulled up and scored. Franta followed that up with a 3 for a 42-21 Greyhound lead.

With under eight minutes left in the second half, Cathedral put together a 12-0 run. Mohr scored twice in a row. Franta, Hotovec and Schommer added two free throws and basket.

Mykenna Vollmer ended the Greyhound run with a 3 of her own. Maddie Gilles dropped in a 3 for Cathedral.

Larsen hit a free throw, Emma Sullivan scored a basket and Ellarie Blomeke dropped in the front end of two free throws.

Larsen led CM with 11 points.

Schommer led all scorers with 19 points. Mohr added 13 points and Franta had 11 points.