Last week was another two wins for the Becker Bulldog girls basketball team, as they reclaimed the number one ranking in MN Class AAA basketball.

Last Friday, the girls overcame a sluggish first half to score a 71-37 win over the St. Francis Saints.

“We settled for threes in the first half and weren’t hitting... the coaching staff wasn’t overly ecstatic at half time to say the least,” Coach Dan Baird said. “We got to the basket in the second and it made all the difference in the world.”

After taking a 35-24 lead at halftime, Becker came out with renewed defensive pressure and better shot selection to outscore the Saints 36-13 in the final stanza.

“Lexi Rose was an offensive and defensive star in this game,” Baird said, referencing her 18 points and four deflections.

Teammates Adeline Kent and Ayla Brown joined Rose in double figures, as the Bulldogs held a 21-0 transition points advantage in the game.

Becker forced the Saints into 23 turnovers, while they did an excellent job of taking care of the ball on offense.

“We did do a nice job only committing six turnovers,” Baird added. “St. Francis’s new coach, Travarus Bennett, is doing a nice job getting his team to play hard and the right way.”

Bennett is former Minnesota Golden Gopher Standout player, who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2002.

Becker scoring: Dani Nuest, 12 (seven rebounds); Maren Westin, five (three steals); Ayla Brown, 11 (five assists); Reese Hausmann, two; Adeline Kent, 12; Lauren Croal, two; Alexis Rose, 18; Evelyn Kreft, two; Liz Mackedanz, seven.

Winter Lakes

Saturday, the team was once again featured in a Breakdown Sports tournament, as the Bulldogs faced the Fergus Falls Otters in the Winter Lakes Classic and came away with a 73-58 win.

Fergus Falls is led by standout player Ellie Colbeck, who poured in 35 points in the game. Colbeck is an all-state returning player who has signed to play with the SDSU Jackrabbits next season.

“She’s a handful,” Baird said after the game.

However, the Bulldogs used excellent balance and a full team effort to come away with the win.

“Maren Westin had a fabulous game scoring 22 points to go with 11 rebounds,” Baird said. “Ayla Brown scored 19 points to go with 12 rebounds and six assists.”

The win was one of the team’s better ones on the year, as the Otters present many unique challenges and, like Becker, play a very difficult schedule.

“Fergus is a high quality team with a record of 14-5 that has a great shot at making state and competing for Class AA title,” Baird said. “It was a great win for the Bulldogs, as we answered every run they had and never went on an offensive drought.”

As the Bulldogs approach the last weeks of the regular season, Baird is happy with how his team is performing.

“This Bulldog team seems to always be able to score, even when we’re having defensive lapses,” Baird said. “We have five girls really able to score and all are capable of scoring 30, making it tough for opponents to match up.”

Becker vs. Fergus scoring: Nuest, 13; Westin, 22; Brown, 19; Kent, six; Rose, 12; Mackedanz, one.

Wildcats

Tuesday evening, Baird and the Bulldogs took on the Chisago Lakes Wildcats and came away with another win, 85-56.

It was incredible offensive balance that led to the win, as six Bulldogs reached double figures in the game.

Scoring: Nuest, 21; Westin, 11; Brown, 16; Kent, 11; Alexa Voller, two; Rose, 13; Mackedanz, 11.