•  Lakers earn second seed in sub-section and will host Litchfield, Saturday

The Minnewaska Area girls basketball team is on another roll.  The Lakers, who won seven-straight games earlier this season, have won their last four straight and seven of their last nine.

The Lakers beat Morris Area, Friday, Feb. 9 (68-31) before winning twice last week at home against Melrose Area, Tuesday (71-31) and at West Central Area, Thursday (64-53).

Minnewaska improved to 18-7 overall and 10-2 in the WCC with its latest wins.  The Lakers are set to close out the regular-season with a game at Albany, Tuesday, Feb. 20 before opening up the Section 3AA Girls Basketball Tournament, Saturday.

The Lakers earned the second seed in their half of the section and were set to face seventh-seeded Litchfield in the opening round.    If Minnewaska Area wins that game it would play again Thursday, Feb. 29.

•  This year’s varsity 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.

Waska 68, Morris Area 31

The Lakers had little trouble with Morris Area, Friday, Feb. 9, outscoring the Tigers 37-13 in the first half on the way to the 68-31 victory.

Sydney Dahl, Megan Thorfinnson and Lauryn Ankeny combined for 41 points for the Lakers to key the win.

Dahl had 16 points, four rebounds and four steals, while Thorfinnson added 14 points, three boards, four steals and a game-high eight assists, and Lauryn Ankeny totaled 11 points, two assists and two steals.

The Lakers shot 57 percent from the field for one of their best-shooting nights of the season.  Minnewaska also recorded 21 steals and forced Morris Area into 26 turnovers.

Avery Fier chipped in with eight points and three rebounds for the Lakers, while Addy Kath had seven points, three steals and a team-high six boards, and Olivia Danielson, Alia Randt and Jayda Kolstoe each added four points.

Waska 71, Melrose 31 

The Lakers held their opponent to 31 points again during a 71-31 rout of Melrose last Tuesday night at home.  The Lakers shot 39 percent from the field, but made up for it with 12-of-19 shooting from the free-throw line and forcing Melrose into 32 turnovers.

Avery Fier had a season-high 18 points to lead the Lakers.  She was 5-of-12 from three-point range and 3-of-4 from the line.

Megan Thorfinnson also scored in double figures with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Addy Kath added 10 points, six boards, three assists and two steals.

The Lakers led 44-19 at halftime before cruising to their 17th win of the season.  In all, nine different players hit the scoring column for Minnewaska Area.

Olivia Danielson had nine points, Jayda Kolstoe had seven points and five boards, Lauryn Ankeny had six points, four rebounds, two assists and a team-high five steals, Sydney Dahl had five points and five boards, and Alia Randt and Carly Jergenson both scored two points with Randt also recording four steals.

It was the fourth time this season the Lakers have scored at least 70 points.

Waska 64, WCA 53

The Lakers clinched second place in the WCC with a 64-53 victory at West Central Area, Thursday night.  The Lakers, who had their season end with a loss to WCA last year during the section tourney, led 33-28 at halftime before holding the Knights to just 25 second-half points.

Megan Thorfinnson had the hot hand for the Lakers, scoring 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field.

Overall, the Lakers shot 49 percent from the field (24-for-49), including 5-of-13 on three-pointers.

Sydney Dahl added 10 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Avery Fier had nine points, Lauryn Ankeny had six points, three boards and four assists, Jayda Kolstoe had six points, three boards and a team-high four steals, and Addy Kath totaled six points, two assists and a game-high 11 rebounds.

WCA had two players score in double figures as Macy Grosz had 15 points and Addison Staples added 11.

Also scoring for the Lakers were Olivia Danielson with three points and Alia Randt with three points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

at Waska 68, Morris-CA 31

Morris Area 13 18 — 31

Waska (16-7) 37 31 — 68

WASKA stats:  31-54 FG (3-13 3pt); 3-8 FT; 27 rebounds; 13 assists; 21 steals; 15 turnovers; 9 fouls . . . Scoring:  Sydney Dahl 16, Megan Thorfinnson 14, Lauryn Ankeny 11, Avery Fier 8, Addy Kath 7, Olivia Danielson 4, Alia Randt 4, Jayda Kolstoe 4 . . . Rebounding:  Kath 6, Dahl 4, Kolstoe 4, Thorfinnson 3, Fier 3, Danielson 2 . . . Assists:  Thorfinnson 8, Ankeny 2 . . . Steals:  Dahl 4, Thorfinnson 4, Danielson 3, Randt 3, Kath 3, Ankeny 2, Kolstoe 2

MORRIS:   Scoring:  Cate Kehoe 12, Kaylee Harstad 6 . . . Rebounding:  Hana Schutz 7 . . . Other stats not available

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at Waska 71, Melrose 31

Melrose 19 12 — 31

Waska (17-7) 44 27 — 71

WASKA stats:  26-67 FG (7-22 3pt); 12-19 FT; 32 rebounds; 11 assists; 19 steals; 6 turnovers 8 fouls . . . Scoring:  Avery Fier 18, Megan Thorfinnson 12, Addy Kath 10, Olivia Danielson 9, Jayda Kolstoe 7, Lauryn Ankeny 6, Sydney Dahl 5, Alia Randt 2, Carly Jergenson 2 . . . Rebounding:  Kath 6, Dahl 5, Thorfinnson 5, Kolstoe 5, Ankeny 4 . . . Assists:  Thorfinnson 3, Kath 3, Ankeny 2 . . . Steals:  Ankeny 5, Randt 4, Thorfinnson 3, Danielson 2, Kath 2

MELROSE:   Scoring:  Ria Nelson 8, Alexa Toenyan 7, Shantel Gruber 6 . . . Reb:  Grace Herdering 8 . . . Other stats not available

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Waska 64, at WCA 53

Waska (18-7) 33 31 — 64

WCA 28 25 — 53

WASKA stats:  24-49 FG (5-13 3pt); 11-22 FT; 30 rebounds; 12 assists; 9 steals; 3 blocks; 11 turnovers; 10 fouls . . . Scoring:  Megan Thorfinnson 21, Sydney Dahl 10, Avery Fier 9, Lauryn Ankeny 6, Jayda Kolstoe 6, Addy Kath 6, Olivia Danielson 3, Alia Randt 3 . . . Rebounding:  Kath 11, Dahl 6, Kolstoe 3, Ankeny 3, Randt 3, Fier 2, Thorfinnson 2

. . . Assists:  Ankeny 4, Randt 3, Dahl 3, Kath 2 . . . Steals:  Kolstoe 4, Randt 2

WCA stats:   Scoring:  Macy Grosz 15, Addison Staples 11, Sydney Ulrich 9 . . . Reb:  Mya Foslien 8 . . . Other stats not available

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