The third girls basketball postseason matchup between East Sac County and IKM Manning in the last four years was a back and forth battle, and a 4th quarter surge lifted East Sac to a 52-47 win tonight (Sat) in a Class 2A region opener.
The game featured eight lead changes and four ties. IKM Manning hit three three-pointers in the 1st quarter to take what was their biggest lead of the night at 11-4 after eight minutes. The Raiders went on a 12-0 run during the 2nd quarter. A three by MaKenna Steiger gave East Sac their first lead at 15-13 with 5:20 to go in the half. East Sac built the lead as high as 19-13 during the 2nd quarter, but the Wolves scored the last six points of the half to tie the score at 19-19 at the midway point.
IKM Manning extended their run to 10-0 into the 3rd quarter, and led by four points three different times during the 3rd. East Sac took the lead back on two different occasions in the 3rd, but the Wolves closed the 3rd quarter on a 5-0 run to go on top 38-35.
A three by Mary Bontrager to start the 4th quarter scoring started the Raiders on a 10-0 run and gave them their biggest lead with 4:30 remaining. IKM Manning closed the gap to two, but then Addisen Ehler scored back to back baskets to get the lead to 49-43. Anna Stangl made a desperation three with the shot clock winding down and a little over a minute remaining to cut it to 49-46. Bontrager hit the front end of one and ones with 1:02 and then 41 seconds left to make it 51-46, and each team hit one more free throw for the final tally.
Kendall Quirk had a game high 24 points for the Raiders, with 22 of them from the 2nd quarter on. Quirk was followed by Ehler with 9, Steiger and Bontrager each had 8, and Sarah Bontrager went three for three at the line for her points. Stangl and Kaitlynn Spoelstra each hit four threes for the Wolves, and both had 14 points.
Postgame comments from East Sac coach Jason Phillips (2:43) as well as Quirk (3:29) can be heard below.
East Sac is now 5-17, as they end IKM Manning’s season at 7-16. East Sac will visit their Twin Lakes Conference rival #8 Pocahontas Area this coming Tuesday night, February 14th at 7pm. The game will be broadcast on Mix 101.7FM. Poky won both regular season meetings.
