LONG-PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Upsala Cardinals got the best of the Sebeka Lady Trojans.
Led by junior Aimee Pelzer’s 15 points, including five late free throws, Upsala (27-1) exacted the revenge it was seeking in a 64-57 victory over Sebeka in the Section 5A Sub-Final Tuesday night in Long-Prairie, Minn.
Exactly 52 weeks ago — March 8, 2011 — in the same LPGE gym, No. 2-seeded Sebeka stole one away from the Cardinals, 58-55. It was only the second the Cardinals lost all season; both were to Sebeka.
After dropping Upsala, the Lady Trojans would then go on to knock off then-reigning Class A champion Barnum in overtime to reach state for the first time in program history.
If the sting of last year’s postseason loss wasn’t enough, Sebeka also ended Upsala’s 2009-‘10 campaign with a sub-section semifinal thrashing, 82-59.
History was not going to be repeated a third time.
Upsala made sure of that.
Misfortune assisted.
Sebeka was without its top scorer, leader and statistically the best point guard to ever wear the purple and gold jersey — Alicia Boe.
Boe’s more than 1,900 career points, 550 assists and 360 steals could move no more than her left knee, which was immobilized after an injury Saturday night in a win against Nevis.
Sebeka fought hard and until the end, getting offensive lifts from Brett and Katianne Brockpahler, who contributed 16 and 12, respectively.
Without its calming influence, though, Sebeka made a few too many mistakes against Upsala’s pressure defense and missed a few too many open looks — the Trojans misfired on every 3-point attempt.
Despite some early mistakes, including five straight possessions with a turnover, Sebeka entered the locker room tied, 25-25.
In the second half, the Trojans started off slowly but then found a rhythm and their largest lead of the game, 37-34.
Then more turnovers and fouls began taking their toll.
Tracy Herzog got hot for Upsala within the seams of the Sebeka 2-3 zone, and Donna Ripplinger hit a big 3.
Soon Sebeka’s miniscule lead turned into a 49-43 deficit.
Katianne Brockpahler brought the Lady Trojans to within a possession of Upsala, but Herzog drained a baseline jumper and the Cardinals burned clock, while hitting a number of clutch free throws down the stretch en route to its 22nd consecutive win.
Upsala now advances to the section finals to play an Isle Huskies team Friday night that it defeated earlier in the season.
The loss ends Sebeka’s nine game winning streak, the team’s longest in three years.
Jessica Lillquist led the Trojans with 17 to give her 2,265 career points, good for No. 1 all-time in program history.
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