The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team lost its third game by five or less points this season during a 47-45 loss at Paynesville last Tuesday night.

The Lakers, who fell to 4-3 overall, have also lost close low-scoring games this season to Sauk Centre (54-53) and NLS (56-51) this year.

Still, Minnewaska Area has won four of its first seven games after going 0-7 to start the season last year.

The Lakers, who are 3-1 in the conference, were also set to play at BBE, Thursday, but results of that contest will be highlighted next week.

Minnewaska Area is set to participate in a Holiday Tourney, Dec. 29-30 before commencing with the 2024 portion of its schedule with a game at home against West Central Area, Friday, Jan. 5.

Through the early part of the WCC schedule, Sauk Centre leads the WCC with a 3-0 record, while WCA and Minnewaska Area are tied for second with 2-1 marks.

•  This year’s roster includes senior Avery Fier; juniors Addy Kath, Lauren Stryhn, Sydney Dahl, Megan Thorfinnson, Dacia Fleury and Amber Peabody; and sophomores Alia Randt, Lauryn Ankeny, Olivia Danielson, Carly Jergenson, Kendall Danielson and Jayda Kolstoe.

Paynes 47, Waska 45

The Lakers were held below 50 points for the first time this year during a 47-45 loss at Paynesville last Tuesday night.

Minnewaska, which led 26-25 at halftime before being held to just 19 points in the second half, shot 32 percent from the field (19-for-59), including just 4-of-19 from long range.

Sydney Dahl went 9-for-15 from the field on the way to a game-high 21 points and five rebounds, but Megan Thorfinnson, one of the top scorers for the Lakers this year, was held to no points as she battled foul trouble all game before fouling out.  “They put a box-and-1 defense on Megan, but overall, we weren’t finishing offensively and on defense, we should have rebounded better,” coach Sidney Barker said.

Olivia Danielson added six points, three assists and two boards, while Alia Randt also had six points and three assists, going 2-of-6 on three-pointers, Jayda Kolstoe had four points and Addy Kath also had four points along with two assists and a team-high eight rebounds.

Rayna Spanier had a team-high 17 points for the Bulldogs, who improved to 4-3 overall, while Emma Flanders added 14 points.

The Lakers recorded eight steals on the night, but also turned the ball over 17 times.

Also scoring for the Lakers were Avery Fier with two points, two assists and five rebounds, and Lauryn Ankeny with two points, seven rebounds and three steals.

at Paynes 47, Waska 45

Waska (4-3) 26 19 — 45

Paynes (4-3) 25 22 — 47

WASKA stats:  19-59 FG (4-19 3pt); 3-7 FT; 10 assists; 2 blocks; 30 rebounds; 8 steals; 17 fouls; 17 turnovers . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 21, Olivia Danielson 6, Alia Randt 6, Jayda Kolstoe 4, Addy Kath 4, Avery Fier 2, Lauryn Ankeny 2 . . . Rebounding:  Kath 8, Ankeny 7, Fier 5, Dahl 5, Danielson 2 . . . Assists:  Randt 3, Danielson 3, Fier 2, Kath 2 . . . Steals:  Ankeny 3

PAY stats:   Scoring:  Rayna Spanier 17, Emma Flanders 14, Grace Roberg 6, Kylie Pauls 4 . . . Other stats not available

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!