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Simley squeaks out win against Hill-Murray to claim Metro East title

By Dominic Davis, SportsEngine, 02/22/19, 5:00PM CST

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Simley’s Ysareia Chèvre drives toward the basket early in the first half. Chèvre put up 21 points in a 64-62 win over Hill-Murray Friday night. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

The final moments of Friday’s game between Simley and Hill-Murray were intense. Time was winding down and Sydney Stensgard lost possession giving Hill-Murray, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, a chance to take the lead.

The Pioneers (23-3, 12-2) were pressured hard and couldn’t find an open look. When the clock ticked to eight seconds left in regulation, Stensgard stole the ball and took off for a breakaway. She made a layup with just 0.7 seconds remaining in what was the deciding play in a 64-62 win.

Simley fans and players erupted into cheer as the Spartans won the Metro East Conference title.


Simley's Nikole Gullerud goes for a layup in the second half Friday night. Simley beat Hill-Murray 64-62 in the final game of the regular season. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

First report

With eight seconds left in the game, Simley’s Sydney Stensgard stole the ball from a Hill-Murray player and made the game-winning basket, leading the Trojans to a 64-62 Metro East Conference title win over the Pioneers Friday.

Simley (21-5, 13-1) got off to a hot start, led by Ysareia Chevre, who scored 15 points in the opening half and finished with 27. The Spartans, ranked No. 8 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, jumped out to an early lead before Hill-Murray (23-3, 12-2) closed the gap. The No. 3-3A Pioneers went into the break up 32-30.

Hill-Murray guard Vanessa Wren finished 26 points, 20 coming in the second half.

After trading punches in the second half, the Spartans tried to pull away. Wren got hot from behind the arc, hitting six of her eight 3-pointers to keep the Pioneers relevant.

After Stensgard’s steal and score, only 0.7 seconds remained on the clock and the Pioneers couldn’t respond.


Hill-Murray’s Vanessa Wren sinks a 3-pointer in the second half en route to a team-high 26 points. Hill-Murray lost to Simley 64-62 Friday. Photo by Earl J. Ebensteiner, SportsEngine

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