Tiger girls going back to state 'hunt'

Monday, February 25, 2019
The Dundy County-Stratton Tigers are 22-2 and district champs following their 22-point win over Heartland Friday afternoon in Gothenburg. Tigers like senior Adaene Krutsinger (15), junior Jessie Freeland (11), McKinzie Baney (23) and Maggie Lutz (5) take on defending D-1 champ North Central on Thursday.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — Down 10 points before halftime, senior Grace Frederick knew Dundy County-Stratton’s Tigers had not even scratched the surface on what they could achieve Friday.

“We knew what we were capable of and we did it,” the post player proclaimed following a 66-44 district finals win over Heartland at Gothenburg High School. “We responded as well as we could have possibly imagined.”

Seniors were the leading reason as Frederick scored 17 points and classmate Adelene Krutsinger deliverd a team-high 19.

They’re now back where DC-S annually belongs at this week’s Class D-1 state basketball tournament in Lincoln.

The Tigers (22-2 record) are seeded third and will take on defending D-1 champion/No. 6 North Central (20-2) at Lincoln North Star High School.

Opening tip is set for 3:45 p.m.

“We’re excited. We’re truly a family and we’re going back to rock the state,” Krutsinger declared during Friday’s interview with McCook radio voice Seth Baumert. “We want to take state. That’s the one thing we want.”

The Tigers will bring plenty of firepower with younger players like McKinzie Baney, who netted another 14 points to help smash Heartland's hopes on Friday.

Junior Jessie Freeland added another seven — including one long-range three that ended any potential rally in rematch of a 2016 D-1 state semifinal game.

The Tigers trailed 24-14 about midway through quarter two but pulled within 27-25 by intermission. They took charge during an 18-7 third quarter.

Junior Sable Lambley added six more points while sophomore Maggie Lutz scored three.

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