Girls basketball: Tigers top section foes in opening week

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The Section 1AAAA Tournament doesn’t begin for nearly three months, but the Farmington girls basketball team is already building its case to be named a top seed.

The Tigers opened the 2010-11 season with road victories over teams they faced in last year’s section tournament, and just might run into again this post-season. They opened with a 53-45 win last Tuesday over an Owatonna team that knocked them out of the tournament in March, then improved to 2-0 by clamping down defensively in a 52-41 win over Rochester John Marshall Friday night.

The Tigers forced the Rockets into 29 turnovers while holding them to just 10 field goals on 28 percent shooting. The visitors started slow themselves and led just 8-3 late in the first half before baskets by Taylor Meyer, Jordan Bridges and Mariah Mincke sparked them to a 23-12 halftime edge.

The Rockets crept back within 38-33 with six minutes to go before the Tigers used a 10-2 run to take back control.

Meyer knocked down six field goals and six free throws en route to a team-high 18 points. Bridges added 14 points and Elena Koch helped out in the post with nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Jamie Kenealy added six points and six rebounds.

Farmington 53,

Owatonna 45

The Tigers saw an eight point halftime lead disappear late, but responded with a late 10-2 run that allowed them to escape with a season-opening road win last Tuesday at Owatonna.

Isis Alexander knocked down two big jump shots during that stretch and Meyer provided the dagger, an offensive rebound and put-back for a three-point play that made it 51-45 with 1:05 remaining.

Farmington led 25-17 at halftime thanks to 13 offensive rebounds and an offense that turned the ball over just five times.

Meyer ended up with 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting and 13 rebounds and Bridges added 14 points.

The Tigers made their home debut Tuesday night with a non-conference game against Hudson (Wis.) at Tiger Gym. The team is home again tomorrow night for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off against Rosemount.

Tags: girls basketball, sports, farmington, prep, tigers