Grand Forks Central’s game program lists 15 of its 17 girls basketball players as guards. The Knights’ tallest player is 5-foot-9.
That presented quite the contrast sizewise Thursday as West Fargo’s shortest starter was 5-foot-11. “Our length does create problems for opponents’ offense,” West Fargo coach Barb Metcalf said in a classic understatement after her Packers claimed a 63-46 Eastern Dakota Conference victory.
But, the Knights also had their moments. Unfortunately for them, they all came in the first half. GFC led 29-25 at halftime, largely from holding WF starters Elizabeth Krueger and Akealy Moton to a combined five points. But, after some halftiime adjustments, the pair of 6-footers combined for 26 points after intermission.
“We took Akealy out of the middle and gave her more room on the perimeter because they were packing the lane on her,” Metcalf said. “We’re lucky Akealy can play guard or the post.”
Krueger finished with 16 points and Moton with 15, combining for four 3-pointers, while fellow starters Kennedi Sand added 12 and Gabby DuBois 10.
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The second-half rally ignited immediately. The Packers outscored GFC 20-4 in the first seven minutes of the second half, all but two points in the string coming from Krueger and Moton.
“They parked their tall girls inside in the first half and went to the hoop,” GFC coach DJ Burris said. “In the second half, they caught fire from the outside. Those are some strong girls driving to the hoop and size-wise we can’t match up with them.”
West Fargo improved to 8-6 in the EDC and 9-6 overall, seeking a top-four placing that will guarantee a home-court advantage in the quarterfinals of the East Region playoffs.
Central fell to 4-10 in the EDC and 5-10 overall with a game script that was all too familiar. The Knights have been able to compete with most of the conference, but haven’t been able to maintain their level of play for 36 minutes.
“We have stretches where opponents catch fire or we go on a scoreless run and most of the time it has been in the second half,” Burris said. “West Fargo is a team we know we can beat. We had a great effort, but they went on a run and our shots weren’t going down.
“But the effort was there.”
The Knights were led in scoring by twin sisters Lauren (12) and Liz (10) Dub.
