The Medford Tigers girls basketball team had their dream season come to an abrupt halt Friday night in a 46-33 loss to St. Peter.  The Tigers had been undefeated.  The ladies handled it with such class.  I've seen several undefeated teams over the years in various sports and many players went to a knee or laid on the floor or kicked chairs on the bench when the game concluded. None of that from Medford.

It simply was not their night.  Give all the credit to the Saints who knew the forte of Medford was their running game.  You can't run if you don't rebound and St. Peter dominated the glass.  The Tigers started the game 4-0, the score was tied at 10 before St. Peter went on a 17-6 run to close the half, 27-16.  The Saints had 4 three point baskets, Medford 1

The Tigers averaged 65 points per game coming into the Subsection Semifinal at Mankato East High School.  Head Coach Brad Kubat told us the key for his team would be making shots.  Sounds simple enough but the Tigers struggled to score.  They were 3 of 15 from the free throw line.  1 for 5 in the first half and 2 for 10 in the second half.

Medford junior point guard Kelly Nihart scored her first basket with 11:20 to go in the game, finishing with 7 points.  Junior Emma Kniefel had just two points in the second half to finish with 10.  Junior Izzy Reuvers also had 10 points.

It was the second consecutive year St. Peter ended Medford's season.

There is one senior on the Medford team, Bailey Purrier,  The Saints have 2 seniors.

There were the usual chants from the students in the St. Peter section (and every team has them) of "overrated", "season's over", "na na na na goodbye." The Tigers had been rated #8 in the state in Class 2A.

I have never been a big fan of those cheers because they are negative.  Just win the game and congratulate your team on a job well done.  "We love our team,"  "Way to go (mascot)."

Not many teams get to experience a undefeated season.  Nobody will ever be able to take that away from the Medford Tigers girls basketball team.  They finished the year 24-1.

St. Peter is now 14-10 and will play Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. at Minnesota State University Mankato.

More From KQCL Power 96