Overtime loss to Panthers stings for Vikings

The sting was real after Minneota dropped a 70-66 overtime game to Camden South foe Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Friday night.

But Coach Chad Johnston, indicating he didn't like to lose, found a lot of good reasons to savor the performance of his 17-4 Vikings.

Indicating his team played into overtime with a team that has only one loss, there were a lot of reasons to feel good about this game.

Minneota actually led 62-60 late in regulation, but Evie Dolan sank a pair of free throws to tie it — then did it again in overtime for a 68-66 lead the Panthers never lost.

Minneota had a chance to tie it at 68 but couldn't hit the free throws themselves. They sank 22 of 35 for the game.

Lydia Sussner stepped up big for Minneota, at one point scoring six straight points to tie the game at 58.

She ended with 28 points and 15 rebounds as she led the Vikings in both categories. Abby Hennen contnributed 11 points and Morgan Kockelman 10 as Minneota got three scorers in double figures.

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton had Sydney Lanoue with 20, Dolan with 18 and Kirk with 16.

Score by Halves

Minneota             29   33   4  —   66
TMB                    35   27   8  —   70

SCORING: Minneota (Sussner 28; A. Hennen 11; Kockelman 10; M. Hennen 8; Gillingham 7) TMB (Lanoue 20; Dolan 18; Kirk 16; Karkle 7; Christian 5).

REBOUNDING: Minneota (Sussner 15; M. Hennen 10; Gillingham 6) TMB (Dolan 9; Lanoue 8).

ASSISTS: Minneota (Gillingham 3) TMB (Kirk 11).

STEALS: Minneota (Sussner 3) TMB (Lanoue 4; Kirk, Smith 3).

BLOCKS: Minneota (Sussner, M. Hennen 2) TMB (Lanoue 2).