Lakeville North Defensive in Win

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn— The number one seed in this years girls basketball tournament, Lakeville North won their 30th game of the season with a 52-33 quarterfinal win over Northfield. Rachel Banham and Cassie Rochel led the way for the Panthers with 17 and 10 points respectively.

Early, the Panthers went inside as Rochel scored the first four points and Lakeville North worked the 11-2 lead. That would be as close as the score would get as the Panthers played solid defense and provided ball pressure that took the Raiders out of their rythym offensively. Morgan Zabel, Northfield’s leading scorer was held in check and played frustrated for the majority of the game. The Raiders, a 33 percent three-point shooting team was held to just a 1 for 13 effort.

The Panthers took a 34-10 lead to the half-time break. The lead stayed in the 20 point range for the majority of the second half. That lead allowed head coach Andy Berkvam the luxury of getting his bench in the game.

“We got 18 kids in the game,” said Berkvam. “They all got the opportunity to play in the state tournament.”

The Panthers will take on the winner of the Chaska/Saint Francis quarterfinal game.