Blossoms keep rolling

After three wins by seven points or less, the Blooming Prairie girls basketball team has handily beaten its past two opponents, including its 51-33 drubbing of United South Central on Friday, Feb. 26. 

After trading baskets for the first few minutes of the game, the Blossoms used a small 5-0 run to give themselves an early 9-4 lead. 

The Rebels sank a three-pointer to make it a one-possession game, but over the next six minutes Blooming Prairie went on a 12-2 run to make the score 21-9 with just under 7 minutes left in the first half.

After scoring just 13 points through the first 16 and a half minutes of the first half, the Rebels scored five points in the final minute and a half to trim their deficit to single digits, 26-18, at halftime. 

The Blossoms started the second half on a high note when Bobbie Bruns’ three-pointer was nothing but net to extend Blooming Prairie’s lead to 11 points. 

With that three-pointer as the starting point, the Blossoms opened the second half on an 8-2 to take a commanding 34-20 lead.

A few minutes later, with the score at 40-25, United South Central scored back-to-back baskets to pull within 11 points with 10 minutes left in the game. 

Still leading by 11 points, 44-33, with just over six minutes left in the game, the Blossoms’ defense clamped down and didn’t allow the Rebels to score another point. 

Blooming Prairie scored seven more points, mostly via the free throw line, and ended up winning 51-33. 

The Blossoms were once again led by Megan Oswald who scored 20 points and recorded six steals and Bobble Bruns who scored 18 points, dished out eight assists and also recorded six steals. 

This win improves Blooming Prairie’s overall record to 11-1 and its Gopher Conference record is now 9-0. 

The Blossoms’ next game is a home contest against Hayfield (10-3) at 7:15 p.m. on Friday.

On Monday, March 8, Blooming Prairie hosts Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (10-2) with the first place in the Gopher Conference on the line. The Blossoms upset the W-E-M Buccaneers, who were then ranked fourth in the state, 43-42 on Feb. 12. 

BP stats: Megan Oswald — 20 points and 6 steals, Bobbie Bruns — 18 points, 8 assists and 6 steals, Maggie Bruns — 7 points, Maren Forystek — 2 points, Allison Krohnberg — 2 points and Emily Miller — 2 points.