Stillwater 64, Park 32

The Wolfpack played visiting Stillwater tough for a half, but things got out of hand in the second as the Ponies galloped to a 54-32 victory.

Stillwater led just 23-19 at the break but outscored Park 41-13 in the second half.

“In the first half we had a lot more patience,” said Park head coach Stephanie Tolkinen. “We ran our offense, we looked for scoring opportunities, even if we didn’t score we were just a little bit more patient about running things. And I think we battled a little bit more on defense. They didn’t necessarily make shots and then they kind of realized that of they got it in the paint they had a little advantage on us, height advantage, size advantage and we had some girls in foul trouble a little bit.

“Second half I think they came up and they just pressed us a little bit, pressured the ball and were taking Sydnee away a little bit and so forced some other girls to handle the ball,” Tolkinen continued. “And also took us out of our normal routine of how we run our offense. And we were able to run some of our specials but of we didn’t get anything we just kind of starting standing or dribbling too much and we really – it just wasn’t characteristic of us the way were we doing things. It took girls out of their game and we just didn’t keep it together.

“And then on the defensive end we just didn’t battle on the boards the way we needed to and we just couldn’t stop them in the paint,” Tolkinen added.

Sydnee Nelson – who was honored before the start of the game for having scored 1,000 points – was most of Park’s offense, scoring 14 of the team’s 32 points. Tori Henderson had nine but no other Park played managed more than four points.

Stillwater senior forward Lexi Karlen, meanwhile, was a force inside for the Wolfpack, scoring 24 points, and three other Stillwater players scored in double figures.

Park fell to 3-4 in the Suburban East Conference and 6-6 on the season.

Stillwater improved its record to 6-2 and 10-2 overall.

Park is at Forest Lake (35, 3-10) Thursday.

Park 47, Irondale 23

Park doubled up the score on Irondale in the first half Wednesday, leading 26-13 at the break en route to a 47-23 Suburban East Conference victory.

Bryleigh Dana and Sydnee Nelson each scored a dozen points to lead the Wolfpack offense. Emma Ambroz added 11 points and Graycie Smith 6.

Park outscored the hosts 21-10 in the second half.

Park improved to 3-3 in the SEC and 6-5 overall. Irondale slipped to 0-6 and 3-11.

Graycie Smith of the Wolfpack brings the ball up court and looks for an open teammate against Stillwater. Photo by John Molene