Anderson Buries Half-Court Buzzer-Beater in Hoops Victory at Wahpeton

The Lady Bulldogs, fueled by a game-high 32 points from junior Isabella Anderson, put up a “W”  in their action-packed season opener in Wahpeton, North Dakota, on December 7. The Lady Bulldogs downed the Lady Huskies 61-56.

Anderson sank a 50-foot Hail Mary shot from behind the half-court line just as the first-quarter buzzer sounded. Anderson’s hot shot pulled Milbank to within three at 16-13. She went on to rack up 19 points in the first half and 32 in the game. Tyra Berry, another star for the Milbank offense, added 19 points. However, Lady Husky Scout Woods was equally fired up. She drained 18 points before the second quarter barely got rolling, and ended the game at 24.  Claire Snaza stepped up to help neutralize Woods and patrol the high post. As a whole, Milbank’s defense aimed for the Huskies’ Achilles heel and forced them into making too many turnovers. It was a rowdy rivalry between teams meeting for the first time, and fans got their money’s worth.

The Lady Bulldogs led by a slim margin at the half at 29-28 after Wahpeton watched a nine-point lead disappear. Milbank forged ahead in the third, but Wahpeton battled back. Milbank was ahead again by just one at the end of three at 42-41.

With 50 seconds left in the game, Milbank led 59 -54. Wahpeton scored a bucket to make it a one-possession game at 59-56. The Huskies were then handed  a gift when Milbank fouled and they found themselves at the line with 15 seconds to go. But, they missed. As the clock wound down to 11 seconds Milbank funneled the ball to Anderson, and Wahpeton was forced to foul her. Anderson nailed both shots from the stripe – the first one rolling in to add to the last minute drama. The Huskies missed their final basket, and the Lady Bulldogs etched the victory with a final score of 61-56.

Snaza led Milbank with eight rebounds. She also added four points to Milbank’s total. Siera Wenzl, Josie Riveland, and Belle Pauli added two points apiece. Riveland grabbed seven rebounds and Anderson nabbed six. As a team they shot one for three, but hit 40 percent from beyond the arc. They collected nearly 78 percent from the free throw line.

Wahpeton’s Hallie Miller made nine ticks for the Huskies, and Sienna Fobb made seven. The Huskies shot 40 percent overall, 21 percent from three, and 69 percent from the line.

What’s next? On Saturday, December 9. Milbank took a 52-39 loss to Lennox. On Thursday, December 14, the Lady Bulldogs go on the road again to Clark-Willow Lake.

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