Barnum Experience the Difference

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn—The Barnum Bombers have made treks to the Twin Cities an annual tradition in March. The squad has made nine trips since 1996, but has only advanced to one championship game. That is until this year. Randy Myhre’s team used that experience to work a 61-52 win over a very good Parkers Prairie team.

“I think it was a key in this game,” said Myhre when asked if the experience was the difference in the win. “I don’t know if it was yesterday, but today it was.”

Right from the opening tap, basketball fans who know were salivating over the matchup between Barnum’s Katrina Newman and Parkers Prairie’s Sari Noga. The two didn’t disappoint as in the first possession, Newman took the ball hard to the basket and drew a Noga foul.

“Noga is such a great player,” said Myhre. “We spent 10 hours trying to figure out how to guard her.”

In the end, both players scored 18 points in a game that had more in common than not and at this point was the game of the tournament.

The key turning point came with 4:48 remaining before halftime. Sarah Myhre, who led the team in scoring buried a three-pointer giving the Bombers a three point lead. Barnum then outscored the Parkers Prairie 9-1 to take a 28-20 lead.

The Bombers had three players in double digits. In addition to Myhre and Newman, Jessica Newman pumped in 11. The three accounted for 53 of the teams 61 points.

Barnum will play in its second championship tomorrow against Goodhue at 12pm.