It was the last thing either team needed, but Nathalie Ratliff had a wide-open lane to run through as the last seconds of the first half melted away. So she willed a teardrop shot through the hoop as the buzzer sounded to make it a 28-point lead at the half, personifying a blatantly one-sided victory.
Ratliff shared a high-five with a teammate as they ran to the locker room, and gave a “thank goodness” look.
Not that the game was ever much in doubt.
The teams traded baskets to start off, and it was a one-team show from there. The Lions (27-4) earned a spot in the Class 2A championship by scoring 21 points off 13 Patriots turnovers. Pequot Lakes (20-12) made just two field goals in the first half.
Despite sitting the final 13 minutes of the game, AnnMarie Healy led all scorers with 15 points. Ratliff scored 13 for the Lions while Taylor Finley added 11.
BRIAN STENSAAS