By Steve Morris

It was a long time coming but the Rush City girls basketball team won its first game of the year against Isle at home Feb. 9.

The win snapped n 17-game losing streak for the girls. In the end, it was Rush City 47, Isle 46.

"The girls definitely deserved this win," head coach Jeremy Albright said.

The girls faced adversity in the first half, falling into a 12-point hole. Senior Derra Gullickson's first-half performance saved the team from slipping into the land of no return, Albright said.

"... without her performance, we don't win," Albright said.

Gullickson finished with eight points, three steals and two assists.

Leading the girls was senior Amber Hoffman who ended the game with 13 points, six rebounds, three steals, three assists and three blocks.

Bethany Peters added nine points and Janet Kemen added eight rebounds in the win.

Uplifting the team were the home fans.

"Our fans were great -- we couldn't have come back without their support," Albright said.

Amber Hoffman 13, Janet Kemen 6, Derra Gullickson 8, Bethany Peters 9, Laura Kay 2, Brittany Scheffer 2, Cheona Fields 2, Amy Carlson 5.

Hoffman's 22 points was not enough to get the Rush City Tigers past Great River Conference foe Hinckley-Finlayson on the road Feb. 6.

The final score was settled; Jaguars 66, Rush City 42.

"I thought we played well. We took better care of the ball than in any of our previous games. Unfortunately, we just ran into a stretch of the game where the ball just wouldn't go in the hoop," Albright said.

On a positive note, the Tigers committed a season low 14 turnovers. In previous games, 30 turnovers wouldn't be uncommon for the Tigers.

However, the girls had a difficult time rebounding the ball and were rebounded 50-36.

"We struggled with Hinckley's 6'6 sophomore; she had a ton of rebounds," Albright said.

Kemen finished with six rebounds and Peters added four points and six rebounds.

Chelsea Kirchberg 1, Amber Hoffman 22, Bethany Peters 4, Laura Kay 4, Brittany Scheffer 5, Cheona Fields 4, Amy Carlson 2.

GRC Girls Basketball

Onamia 9-3, 11-7; Braham 8-4, 14-8; Hinckley-Finlayson 8-4, 12-7; Ogilvie 7-5, 14-7; East Central 7-5, 11-10; Aitkin 5-7, 9-11; Isle 3-9, 6-15; Rush City 1-11, 1-17.