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  • Waterville-Elysian-Morristown's Lindsay Ayers guards Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial's Kortney Barker during the second half Tuesday in Lake Crystal. Pat Christman

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March 3, 2010

Knights down Bucs 46-39

Roelofs picks up 12 points, 10 rebounds for LCWM

Tyler Buckentine Free Press Staff Writer

LAKE CRYSTAL — Steve Campbell told his team to “set the tone” in his pre-game pep talk before Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial took on Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Tuesday night.

The talk was effective and the Knights stuck to the game plan, controlling the start of both halves as No. 4 LCWM bounced the fifth-seeded Bucs from the Section 2AA quarterfinals 46-39.

“We talked about setting the tone of the game and obviously we did,” Campbell said. “That was huge, it got them out of what they like to do and it got us going up and down.”

The Knights jumped out to a 13-point lead and didn’t allow the Bucs to score until the 9:30 mark of the first half and started the second half with a 12-point lead thanks to an 10-0 run.

“We always like to come out strong and set the tone,” said LCWM guard Kortney Barker. “Hopefully it gave them a rough first impression.”

But the Bucs came charging back both times. WEM’s Lindsay Ayers hit a pair of 3-pointers near the 10-minute mark of the first half. A few minutes later, Cassie Masberg hit three straight baskets, Kylie Dorenkemper went 4 for 4 from the line and Amanda Barton knocked down a jumper with her foot on the line to cap the 18-5 run.

“They started to run on us,” Barker said. “We got comfortable and we needed to stay focused.”

The Knights took a 22-20 lead into the half and scored the first 10 points of the second half but the Bucs went on a 12-2 run to cut the lead to two with 7:46 to go.

Barton spearheaded the run with seven points, including a 3 and finished her last high school game with 11 points. She’s heading to Northern Iowa next year.

“She’s very tough but we took it to her and got her into foul trouble so she had to sit,” Campbell said.

Barker put an end to the run with a field goal with 7:31 left and scored seven more points down the stretch — including 5 for 6 from the line — finishing with 15.

“Kortney had a big night tonight,” Campbell said. “She hit big free throws late to put the game out of reach.”

LCWM’s Tara Roelofs scored 12 points with eight rebounds and Karina Schroeder had 10 points and eight rebounds. Ayers scored 12 points to lead the Bucs.

“It was Schroeder’s first game back after a high ankle sprain,” Campbell said. “She played very well down low; we always get a good game out of Tara.”

The Knights go to top-seeded Le Sueur-Henderson Friday to face the Giants in the semifinals. LSH  eliminated LCWM in 2009.

“We’re expecting (LSH’s) best,” Barker said. “They kicked us out last year but we’re ready for them and we’re going to go after them.”

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High School Sports