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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
BANGOR – The Auburndale girls basketball team’s bid for its first-ever state tournament appearance fell a win short as the Eagles put up a valiant effort but came up short 67-55 to Bangor in a WIAA Division 4 sectional final Saturday at Bangor High School.
Auburndale overcame an early 10-4 deficit to take a 26-25 halftime lead on the strength of four 3-pointers and 15 points from Georgi Schmutzer.
Bangor quickly turned the tables, opening up a double-digit lead midway through the second half.
Auburndale was able to hang close as Hailey Grimm scored 10 points and Ashlyn Grimm had six in the second half, but the Cardinals made 10 of 12 free throws in the final 3 minutes to hold on.
Bangor finished 20-for-26 overall from the free throw line, and advances to the state tournament for the third time in the last four years, having won a title in 2018.
Schmutzer finished with 17 points and Hailey Grimm had 13 for Auburndale, which finishes the season with an 18-5 record.
Nora Tucker had five 3-pointers and 20 points for Bangor (19-2). Haley Jones added 16 in the win.
Bangor will play in the WIAA Division 4 State Girls Basketball Tournament at the La Crosse Center on Friday. Matchups will be announced Sunday.
Cardinals 67, Eagles 55
Auburndale 26 29 – 55
Bangor 25 42 – 67
AUBURNDALE (55): Aliah Hamus 0 0-0 0, Josie Ertl 0 0-0 0, Georgi Schmutzer 6 1-1 17, Lauren Peplinski 1 0-0 2, Ashlyn Grimm 1 4-4 6, Kaitlyn Kundinger 4 0-0 9, Victoria Hasenohrl 0 0-0 0, Hailey Grimm 4 5-8 13, Annamarie Aue 3 1-2 8. FG: 19. FT: 11-15. 3-pointers: 6 (Schmutzer 4, Kundinger 1, Aue 1). Fouls: 19. Fouled out: none. Record: 18-5.
BANGOR (67): Andrea Olson 5 0-0 11, Haley Jones 7 2-2 16, Madelyn England 0 0-0 0, Taylor Jacobson 1 3-4 5, Nora Tucker 5 5-6 20, Megan Miedema 1 4-6 6, Madeline Janisch 0 0-2 0, Aliyah Langrehr 1 6-6 9. FG: 20. FT: 20-26. 3-pointers: 7 (Tucker 5, Olson 1, Langrehr 1). Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Jones. Record: 19-2.