The Ranger girls basketball team closed its 2015-16 season last Wednesday in the first round of Section 7AAAA playoffs while hosting fifth-seeded St. Francis.
The Fighting Saints led, 29-27, over the fourth-seeded Rangers at halftime, then outscored the host team, 38-32, in the second half to advance to the section semifinals against top-seeded Anoka.
Forest Lake was unable to contain St. Francis’ shooters, Sammie and Sydney Zgutowicz, who tallied 25 and 23 points, respectively.
Ranger junior Tia Moscatelli was the high scorer with 14 points, followed by ninth-grader Lexie Hultman with 12 points. Ninth-grader Lindsey Johnson recorded 11 points, while ninth-grader Kenzie Stumne earned seven points. Senior Jenny Birkholz and junior Abi Asperheim contributed six and four points, respectively, while ninth-grader Abby Leach and senior Gabby Shimota added three and two points each.
Forest Lake finished its season at 7-20 overall and 3-13 in the Suburban East Conference with wins over Mounds View, Stillwater and Park. Anoka defeated St. Francis in the semifinals and will face second-seeded Andover in the finals at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at North Branch High School.