Tigers knocked out by Creston

CRESTON — The Red Oak Tigers girls basketball season came to an end last Wednesday when they lost in the opening round of Class 3A Regionals to the Creston Panthers, 62-43.

Red Oak stayed close with Creston during the first quarter, trailing 14-9.

But several runs during the first half put Creston ahead by seven points at halftime.

“Creston was on fire tonight. I think the four or five top scorers on their team were shooting way over their average,” Interim Coach Stacey Rolenc said. “You’ve got to hand it to them. They deserved to win tonight.”

Creston jumped out to a 19-point lead in the third quarter. However points by Elise Gronhaug and Grace Blomstedt, as well as Gabi French, Kate Walker and Blake Bergren, helped chip away at the lead.

The Panthers would stay ahead for the rest of the game and advanced to play Glenwood on Saturday night. Glenwood won the game 60-34.

Walker finished the game with nine points for the Tigers, while French and Bergren had eight points.

Red Oak finishes the 2011-12 season with a 6-16 record.

Rolenc said the one thing about the team is that they’ve grown very close together.

“The toughest part is knowing that it’s going to be over and we’re not going to be in the gym and that’s hard for all of us,” Rolenc said.