An all-around sloppy night led to a terrible score and a slow four quarters for the Bulldogs.
At the end of the first quarter, things werenít looking too bad for the Bulldogs, as the score was 6-11, Cathedral. At the half, though, Cathedral held the lead by 21 points.
In the second half Paynesville was held to twelve points as Cathedral scored 15 in the third quarter alone.
Amber Michaelis led the Bulldogs with seven points and seven rebounds.
Cathedral :11-21 -15-15 - 64
Paynesville: 6-5-9-3 23
LPGE
In their second meeting with the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Thunder, the Bulldogs walked away winners, 39-37.
Paynesville led at the end of every quarter, but the game was up for grabs in the last minutes of the fourth quarter.
Fouling by the Thunders in the fourth quarter sent the Bulldogs to the line, where they pulled away the two-point lead.
Amber Michaelis also hit one of her three-point goals in the fourth quarter, a big shot since the score was close most of the quarter.
"We kept our composure when the game was on the line. We showed some maturity,î stated coach Mahlum in regards to the fourth quarter play.
Aggressive defense throughout the entire game was the key to this Bulldog win.
Freshman Tanya Lieser dominated the night with nine rebounds, twelve points, and eight blocks. Steph Tangen added nine points and four assists to the night.
LPGE: 9-12-5-11 - 37
Paynesville: 15-8-9-7 - 39
Melrose
The Bulldogs won their second conference game in a row, Friday night against Melrose, 46-37.
The score was tied at the end of the first quarter, and the Bulldogs led by only four at halftime; but the second half play brought a very important conference win for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs had control of the boards all night. Senior Becky Beek and freshman Tanya Lieser combined for 22 rebounds, and Amber Michaelis added seven of her own.
"As in the Long Prairie game, our defense was the most important aspect of the game,î stated coach Mahlum.
In an attempt to stay in the game in the fourth quarter, Melrose fouled, sending the Bulldogs to the line. This attempt backfired, as the Bulldogs scored seven of the eleven points of the quarter from behind the line, sealing the victory.
Amanda Lieser and Michaelis led the Bulldogs in scoring. Lieser had three, three-point goals, for a total of fifteen points, and Michaelis had thirteen.
Melrose: 13-12-6 -6 - 37
Paynesville: 13-8-14- 11 - 46