WEST FARGO-Fargo Shanley girls basketball players are in the practice gym before head coach Steve Jacobson comes to practice. They're still in the gym long after Jacobson wants to go home.
The Deacons won three straight Class A state championships and nearly won a fourth last season but lost to Bismarck Legacy in last year's title game. Jacobson doesn't even have to tell the Deacons to work hard. They want another shot at the state title.
No. 3-ranked Shanley is on a five-game winning streak to start the season after putting together a second-half comeback to take a 68-57 Eastern Dakota Conference win at West Fargo Sheyenne on Thursday, Dec. 21.
"Their drive and passion for the game is just unbelievable," Jacobson said. "They all remember last year and want a rematch on it. They're going to get it. It's just a matter of hard work and determination, and we'll get the job done."
Hadley Huber tied for a game-high 19 points, all of which were in the second half. Reile Payne added 18 points and Caira Berg totaled 17 points.
Huber said the Deacons moved the ball more in the second half and played better defensively.
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"We really got after it because we knew we didn't want to end the game down," Huber said. "It was a little tough. We just knew that if we could keep with them into the second half we would be able to play more of our game."
Sheyenne head coach Brent Hintz said Shanley's length and size is tough to play against. Having been in important games before, the Deacons play with confidence and poise, Hintz said.
"It's hard to put them in situations they haven't seen before," Hintz said. "It's hard to rattle them."
The Mustangs (4-2, 4-2 EDC) had won four of their first five games of the season in their quest for their first ever Class A state tournament berth.
Sheyenne was on its way to beating Shanley without University of North Dakota commit Maggie Manson, who was on the bench due to injury. The 5-foot-8 junior guard was averaging 16 points in the first three games of the season. Hintz said Manson didn't have a timetable for her return.
With other players on the bench due to injury and foul trouble, Hintz said the Mustangs got out of rhythm offensively in the second half. Hintz said the holiday break will give the Mustangs some much needed time to heal and rest.
"We just didn't have enough of our kids in the game who were used to making things happen offensively," Hintz said. "We need to get some things fixed and healed up."
Joely Goodiron scored 11 points in the first half to push the Mustangs to an 11-point lead at halftime. Goodiron finished the game with 19 points and Yasmina Dokara added 14 points for the Mustangs.
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After Sheyenne was still up by 11 points with just over 16 minutes left to play, the Deacons (5-0, 5-0) went on a 21-4 run over the span of 7 minutes. Shanley started to play more physically on both sides and scored on a handful of second-chance shots. Despite a late Sheyenne effort, the Deacons held on for the win.
"We came out with a little more fire," Jacobson said. "I believe in these girls and the girls believe in themselves as a team. That's what counts."
Halftime: WFS 35, FS 24
FS: Berg 17, Huber 19, Payne 18, Rivard 2, Vetter 9, Manual 3.
WFS: Lewis 6, Goodiron 19, Weber 8, Dokara 14, Freih 7, Blascyk 1, Stroh 2.
