Hillcrest Girls Qualify for State Tournament for the First Time

The Hillcrest Girls Basketball team is going to the state tournament for the first time in program history. (HLA Facebook Page)

Fergus Falls, MN – The Hillcrest Comets qualified for their first ever state girls’ basketball tournament with a 67-52 victory over the Breckenridge Cowgirls in the Section 6A Championship game at the Moorhead High School Friday night.

“Defense and rebounding have been keys for us all season long and they certainly were again tonight,” said head coach Hannah Clark of the Comets. “Our team defense was so good. We got stops when we needed to get stops, and did a fantastic job rebounding the ball as a team.”

Elin Retzlaff scored 32 points and had 7 rebounds and blocked 4 shots in the game. 23 of her points came in the first half and she connected on four 3-pointers. Elsa Retzlaff had a solid floor game with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists, Ella Knutson pulled down 7 rebounds and dished out 6 assists, Aaveah Stender finished with 11 points and 6 boards, Stella Moline hit 3 3’s on the way to a 9 point performance, and Emme Berge was effective on the boards with a team high 8 rebounds.

“Elin was just amazing out there,” said Coach Clark. “What I love so much about it is that she doesn’t force anything, she just lets it come to her. Stella gave us some huge minutes and is so cool under pressure, and I thought Aaveah controlled the paint on the defensive end. Elsa did such a nice job handling ball pressure and initiating our offense. Her decision making when she’s got the ball in her hands really helps control the tempo of the game. Emma and Ella’s defense and rebounding always gives us toughness and energy. I thought they did a great job limiting Breck’s guard’s abilities to get open looks at the basket.”

The Comets will open play on Thursday against the New Richland-H-E-G Panthers at Maturi Pavilion on the campus of the University of Minnesota.