FERGUS FALLS, Minn. - Although she downplayed rumors that she's already received NCAA Division I scholarship offers, everything else you've heard about Fergus Falls sophomore Hannah Draxten is true.
One piece of new information about the 6-foot scoring machine: She's part of arguably the area's best team.
The No. 10-ranked Otters followed a victory against No. 3 Detroit Lakes with a 66-60 win Tuesday against Moorhead, another previously unbeaten team that went to the Minnesota Class 4A girls basketball state tournament last season.
Did anybody see this coming from a Fergus Falls club that was 11-14 in 2004-05?
"No," Otters head coach Dave Rund said. "In our locker room, of course we want to say it was. The momentum that we created last year by our run to the section (final) definitely carried over the summer. Kids had awesome offseasons, built a lot of confidence and they carried that confidence and intensity into practice."
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That was perhaps the most impressive aspect of the victory over Moorhead (5-1): Fergus Falls matched not only the Spuds' physical length, but their unending defensive scrappiness.
The Otters (7-0) forced 24 turnovers and held Moorhead scoreless for 5 minutes, 34 seconds early in the second half to break open a tight game with a 13-0 run. There were eight ties and nine lead changes in the first half.
Draxten, who finished with 30 points and eight rebounds, scored the final eight of the game-changing burst. Each pair of points was posted in a different manner: a left-handed turnaround hook from the baseline, a drive across the paint for a layup, a 16-foot jumper, an offensive rebound that resulted in two free throws.
"She's a legitimate player," Spuds coach Jim Kapitan said. "You get her the ball."
Tell us something the University of Minnesota - which sent coaches to the Detroit Lakes game - doesn't already know.
Moorhead, meanwhile, hit four 3-pointers late to cut a 13-point deficit to three with 14 seconds left. Kapitan said he was proud of the effort of his team - which was without one starter due to illness and lost two more to foul trouble - and not surprised by the outcome.
This season, the Otters, like their young star, are for real.
"(Being 7-0) it means a lot," said Draxten, who, with an average of 23.7 points per game, is on her way to leading the Otters in scoring for a third straight season. "We're having a lot of fun right now and hopefully it'll keep going on."
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MOORHEAD: Dolence 3 0-0 7, Vanyo 2 2-6 6, Anderson 1 3-4 5, Jaroszewski 4 0-0 11, Cook 7 2-2 16, Hooten 6 1-4 13, Sam 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 8-16 60.
FERGUS FALLS: Erstad 0 0-0 0, Moon 2 1-3 6, Draxten 8 12-14 30, Shaikoski 6 2-2 15, Brause 4 4-6 12, Moore 1 1-2 3. Totals 21 20-27 66.
Half: FF 31, M 30. 3-point goals: Jaroszewski 3, Dolence, Draxten, Moon, Shaikoski. Total fouls: M 21, FF 21. Fouled out: Hooten, Dolence. Rebounds: M 27 (Hooten, Vanyo 5), FF 28 (Draxten 8). Turnovers: M 24, FF 25.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Terry Vandrovec at (701) 241-5548
