White Bear Lake has been an enigma this season for Suburban East Conference opponents.
 
Cycling 12 players through the lineup, the Bears get contributions from everyone, making it problematic for defenses to shut down one player.
 
“We have a lot of good players, so their stats are reduced, but our overall effectiveness is better because we’re more rested than the other team,” White Bear Lake coach Jeremy Post said.
 
While any one of several players can take over in any game, it was one of the team's usual suspects who stepped forward in the Bears' matchup at defending league champion Roseville on Friday.
 
Minnesota-Duluth commit Alison Hinck showed plenty of poise as she sank all four of her free throws in the final three minutes of play to help seal White Bear Lake's 48-41 victory over the Raiders.
 
This win was anchored by strong defensive play.
 
Standing at 6-foot-2, Jordan Ferrand is the tallest player on the Bears' roster. The starting sophomore forward served as an airtight barrier early, blocking two shots and recording two steals in the opening five minutes.
 
Her efforts catapulted White Bear Lake to an 7-0 lead and exhibited the types of plays the Bears used to escape Roseville with a win and remain undefeated in league play.
 
The Raiders (11-5, 5-3) got the message and chose to slow the pace on their home floor in a rematch of last year’s Class 4A, Section 4 final.
 
“The game was never really comfortable, and our kids responded well to it. They just kept grinding and kept fighting through it,” Post said.
 
“That was (the Raiders') style of game, and we found a way to beat them,” he added.
 
The Bears (12-5, 8-0), ranked No. 8 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, were subjected to long possessions on defense and never fully hit their groove on the other side of the court.
 
“We had to come out with urgency and not be afraid of what would happen,” senior captain Taite Anderson said. “We weren’t handling the pressure right and were too nervous.”
 
White Bear Lake's seniors felt the mounting tension of the high stakes game as the Raiders defense relentlessly applied pressure.
 
“When teams are really aggressive defensively, you have to be just as aggressive offensively and catch them in that," Post said. "We were just a hair off for a lot of the game, missing easy baskets and wide-open people.”
 
Still a developing player in the lineup, Ferrand remained even-keeled in the paint, protecting the rim and collecting rebounds.
 
“She handles the pressure well. I don’t know if she realizes the pressure yet,” Hinck said.
 
White Bear Lake showed brief glimpses of its game in the second half, including when Ferrand gathered a rebound and pushed the ball up to Hinck on the fast break. Hinck knocked down a three-pointer on the play to put the Bears ahead by eight with 10 minutes remaining.
 
“I don’t think (Ferrand) is worried about making mistakes. She’s just playing and doing her best, which is really helpful in tough situations,” senior center Katie Brabenec said.
 
Despite her slight height advantage on Brabenec and Anderson, Ferrand still figuratively looks up to the seniors and has taken kindly to their desire to help her improve.
 
“During practice, they push me really hard. If I didn’t have them, I’d be completely a different player,” she said.
 
Ferrand’s youthful bliss has boosted her confidence in her second year on varsity, helping her carve out a starting role on White Bear Lake’s deep roster.
 
“It would be nice to beat them by a lot, but it’s nice to have these close games in the regular season that push us harder,” she said.
.

White Bear Lake's Jordan Ferrand (30) takes the ball up court past Roseville defender Jolisa Ross. Photo by Cheryl Myers

First Report

Senior captain Alison Hinck finished with 11 points to lead White Bear Lake to a 48-41 victory over the Raiders Friday night at Roseville High School.
 
Ranked No. 8 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, the Bears (12-5, 8-0) remain unbeaten in Suburban East Conference play.
 
Hinck was held to just two points in the opening half, but sank two baskets and shot 4-for-4 at the free-throw line in the final three minutes to solidify White Bear Lake’s win. 
 
Fellow captain Taite Anderson, who was also limited to two first-half points, finished with 10.
 
Jolisa Ross scored a game-high 16 points and Kaia Porter had 11 for the Raiders (11-5, 5-3).

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