Pushing their record to 5-9 for the season, the St. Mary Cardinal girls basketball team narrowly defeated Arlington in a home game last week, and widened that win margin traveling to Freeman.

The first game, Jan. 27, St. Mary hosted the Arlington Cardinals in what seemed to be a decisive victory for the visiting Cardinals at the outset.

A 20-10 lead going into the second quarter seemed insurmountable for St. Mary, despite a surge in the second, bringing the half-time score to 32-25.

But an Arlington-dominated third quarter didn’t deter the local girls, who made a play for the game in the fourth quarter, outscoring Arlington 15-3 and ending the game at 48-47.

Kelly Michel led the scoring charge, bringing in 18 of Dell Rapids’ points for the night. Amber Hansen contributed nine, and Brooke and Anna Wolles each kicked in six.

Mikayla Brown proved an asset on defense, grabbing eight rebounds for the girls, while Lexie LeBrun picked up six, and Hansen five. Michel and Hansen also led the steal count, contributed six apiece to the total 19.

St. Mary vs. Freeman Academy

Traveling to Freeman the next night, the St. Mary girls didn’t get a break before taking on the 2-10 team.

After managing a slight lead in the first quarter, 6-5, the scoring was kept to a minimum by the half, as Freeman edged St. Mary 11-9.

Freeman cemented its position in the lead by the third quarter, 23-18, but the Cardinals again utilized a fourth-quarter surge, outscoring their opponents 15-6, and effectively ending the game 33-29.

Michel again led the shooting game, with 13 points, while Brown and Anna Wolles picked up six points apiece.

Hansen and Anna Wolles led the defense, with eight rebounds from each, while Brown managed seven. Brown and Michel dominated in steals, with five apiece, and Hansen snatched up four.

Next up for the Dell Rapids St. Mary girls is a match-up with Deubrook Area in Toronto Feb. 3.