Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Cathedral’s Shay Wilfahrt (24) puts up a shot over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop’s Keyden Buboltz (3) and Kelby Bruns (10) during a Tomahawk Division girls basketball game at Cathedral High School on Monday.

By Jeff Meder

sports@nujournal.com

NEW ULM — New Ulm Cathedral defeated Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 69-43 on Monday in a Tomahawk Division girls basketball game.

It was a contest that featured some good defense and rebounding but costly turnovers by both teams. The Greyhounds were able to take control of the game early and they never looked back.

“They came out aggressive on us in the first half,” Cathedral head coach Dave Wilfahrt said. He was pleased that the Greyhounds were able to come back and do the things that they do well on the court. At halftime, Cathedral talked about doing a better job of rebounding. Coach Wilfahrt said they accomplished that in the second half.

Jayde Altermatt led Cathedral with 25 points and Shay Wilfahrt added 18 points. Taylor Bauer led GFW with 11 points.

The Cathedral defense caused challenges for GFW because its defense caused the Firebirds to miss shots and turn over the basketball. Cathedral build an 10-point lead by halftime.

The Greyhounds opened up the second half with 7-0 run. Both teams utilized full-court presses during the second half. Cathedral seemed to benefit the most by the more aggressive defensive style. GFW did not quite have the success it desired from the press, but it never quit.

Altermatt’s 3-point shot gave Cathedral a 20-point advantage, 42-22, midway in the second half. Several plays later, Shay Wilfahrt had the ball. Two GFW defenders collapsed on her, but she still able to muscle her way between them to score. Four plays later, GFW’s Kinley Bruns slipped through the Cathedral defense and scored on a running layup.

Cathedral (10-13, 7-9) will host Nicollet (17-6, 11-1) on Thursday. GFW (3-19, 1-14) will host Springfield (8-12, 7-7) on Thursday.