According to the MSHSL enrollment data, last Friday’s girls basketball game between Eden Prairie and Becker would be a predicted blowout in favor of the Eagles, who have the fifth highest enrollment in the state of MN at 2,642 students in grades 10-12. Becker’s data placed the team at the 90th largest, with 844 students, meaning that the Eagles had three times as many potential players to choose from when sculpting its roster.

The good news for the Becker Bulldogs is that the team and Coach Dan Baird didn’t heed the stats, and as a result they notched one of the best victories in program history with a 70-67 win.

After a back and forth affair for most of the second half, the game was tied with 1:30 to go, and the Eagles had an open three pointer at the buzzer to potentially send the game to overtime, but the ball found the back of the rim and bounced off.

“This was a game of runs and we made the plays down the stretch,” Coach Dan Baird said. “Our girls executed our game plan.”

The Eagles came into the game undefeated (6-0) and ranked #3 in Class AAAA, and in the early minutes of the game they looked deserving of the top five ranking.

“Eden Prairie has been an amazing free-throw shooting team, and we limited those attempts by committing only 10 team fouls for the game, which was under our goal actually,” Baird noted. “We did a nice job playing defense with our feet and not fouling.”

Eden Prairie was, however, hot in the first half from the three point line, going 8-of-14 which propelled them to a 38-32 halftime lead.

“But we made an immediate run to start the second half and buckled down our defense, forcing tough shots for the Eagles,” Baird said. “This win accomplishes a major team goal for us - historically, we haven’t been able to get over the hump versus top five, Class AAAA schools.”

Becker was 8-for-8 from the foul line in the game, and the Bulldogs needed every point.

Becker senior Ayla Brown led the scoring attack for the Bulldogs with 25 points and five rebounds.

“Eden Prairie had a tough time keeping Ayla in front,” Baird said.  “Through four games, Ayla’s lightning quick first step has been difficult to stop for opponents.”

Baird also credited Dani Nuest with playing a great game, scoring 16 points and dishing out five assists.

“More importantly, Dani held superstar Eagle shooting guard Tori Schlagel to zero points on 0-for-7 shooting,” Baird said. “Lexi Rose hit huge free throws down the stretch and made key defensive plays in the last two minutes.”

Baird added that Maren Westin was efficient with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

“This was a back and forth game that was enjoyable for the fans to watch, and epitomized what high school sports is all about,” Baird concluded.  

Becker continued its tough schedule with a game against Class AAAA Roseville on Thursday, followed by matchups against Alexandria and Minnetonka at the Breakdown’s Granite City Classic over the Holidays.

Becker scoring: Nuest 16 (five assists), Westin 13, Brown 25, Lexi Rose 12, Evelyn Kreft two, Liz Mackedanz two.