New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva’s Carlie Wagner drove to the basket for two of her game-high 43 points.
The only thing flashier than Rebekah Dahlman's bright yellow shoes Wednesday night wasn't her scoring touch. It was her opponent.
On a night Dahlman became the state's all-time career scoring leader in girls' basketball, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva sophomore Carlie Wagner stole the spotlight. She seemed to score at will, certainly more than enough to keep her team's record perfect after a 75-45 Class 2A quarterfinal victory over defending champion Braham at Target Center.
"I wasn't expecting this at all," she said.
Wagner dazzled, scoring 19 of her team's first 21 points on long jumpers and reverse layups en route to 43 points. The total was four off the single-game tournament record.
"Carlie didn't realize how good she was herself until she dabbled in it and took the ball a few times to the hole," New Richland coach John Schultz said.
It was billed as Dahlman's night, and the junior came through with 29 points to give her 3,895 for her career. It eclipses the previous mark of 3,888 set by Minneapolis South's Tayler Hill from 2005 to 2009.
Twelve minutes remained in the game when Dahlman made a jumper from just outside the lane to pass Hill's mark. But the basket was merely a hailstone dent in New Richland's cavernous lead.
"It's sweet to break that record, but honestly I'm probably disappointed in myself right now more than anything," said Dahlman, who had a double-double yet committed six turnovers and was held to six points below her season average. "Tough game. Carlie Wagner is one of the best players I've played against for sure. She's going to go far in life."
Dahlman sought out Wagner after the game.
"She told me to go win state," Wagner said.
The cordial meeting between the stars came after a stellar show in which the two attempted 55 total shots, capped when Wagner scored her final points on a fast-break layup.
Fans marveled at her performance much like the wide-eyed Wagner did at all the postgame attention on her rather than the new all-time record holder.
"[Dahlman] really proved herself but I think we came out stronger and had a lot better defense they weren't expecting," Wagner said.
So was this Wagner's proving ground as the next up-and-comer?
"That's for everybody else to decide," she said.
-- Brian Stensaas, Star Tribune
-- Brian Stensaas, Star Tribune
-- Jim Paulsen, Star Tribune
-- Jim Paulsen, Star Tribune
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