The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinal girls basketball team and Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossomare are about as evenly matched as two teams can be.

Going into Monday night's makeup game in Faribault both teams had nine wins on the season, and the statistics were pretty close, too.

The Cardinals averaged 50 points a game and Awesome Blossoms 48. Defensively, Bethlehem Academy gave up an average of 55 points a game and Blooming Prairie 58.

In the first half there were a number of lead changes before the teams went to strategize during the half with Blooming Prairie ahead 34-33. The exchange of leads continued in the second half with the Awesome Blossoms dominating the glass,

The Bethlehem Academy statistics showed Blooming Prairie with 47 rebounds in the game while the Cardinals had 27.

Keely Skluzacek led the Cardinal attack with 31 points, including five of the team's eight three-point baskets. Shelby Meyer looked like a football defensive back picking off passes and finished the game with 14 points, including 6 of 7 free throws.

Kallie Donahue and Bala Kalis were the only other Cardinals in double figures with three three-point baskets for Donahue and Kalis was a perfect 5 for 5 from the free throw line. Kalis had 11 points and Donahue 10.

Bethlehem Academy's bench outscored Blooming Prairie 15-4 and the Cardinals connected on 16 of 23 free throws, while the Awesome Blossoms were 14 of 26 from the charity stripe.

Senior Marissa Larson led Blooming Prairie with 19 points and junior McKenzie Hein added 17.

The game was huge in relation to section seeds, with the result probably meaning Bethlehem Academy will probably be the No. 5 seed in the west subsection of Section 1 Class A and Blooming Prairie the No. 6 seed.

The Cardinals host St. Clair on Thursday and Maple River on Friday before ending their regular season Monday at Mankato Loyola.

The Awesome Blossoms are at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton on Tuesday night and host Mankato Loyola this Friday.

Bethlehem Academy on Defense in Second Half- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Bethlehem Academy on Defense in Second Half- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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