Defending Class AAAA Champion Eastview Lightning Remains Alive With Win

The defending Class AAAA champions the Eastview Lightning didn't miss a beat Wednesday afternoon as Macy Guebert scored a game high 15 points to lead the Apple Valley school to a 48-37 win over the Forest Lake Rangers in the quarterfinals at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

The Lightning got off to a good start as they began the game with a 5-0 run that began with Guebert, the daughter of former Eastview head coach Melissa Guebert hitting a shot from Dinkytown and Lauren Glas' lay up.  The Rangers broke into the scoring column on a pair of free throws from Amy Leach with 15:33 to go.  But :13 later, Eastview's Emma Carpenter picked up her second foul, sending her to the bench.  Not only did the Lightning shine on offense as Guebert would convert a high shot off the backboard, Brynn Schwanz made a three pointer and Cassidy Carson would score to put the Lightning on a 7-0 run but they would also play outstanding defense.  Eastview would switch between a 1-2-2 diagonal zone and a 2-1-2 zone toward the middle of the lane.  They would also get another three pointer from Guebert and Carpenter would hit another at the horn to give the Lightning a 24-13 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Lightning would be without Glas after she picked up her third foul :23 into the half.  Forest Lake would strike first on Lexie Hultman's basket 1:25 into the half.  It would be one of the few highlights for the Rangers as Eastview would pull away with a 9-0 run that would include an excellent inside bounce pass from Guebert to Schwanz and Carpenter converting a three point play.  Eastview would get good news when Glas reentered with 9:39 to play.  The Lightning would pull away again on an 8-0 run and Forest Lake would trim the the lead to eight on Maddy Rice's three pointer and Forest Lake would be forced to foul to keep Eastview from taking time off the clock and the Lightning would wrap up a semifinal berth by going 10-13 from the free throw line in the second half.

Schwanz was the only other Eastview player in double figures, scoring 14 points.  Carson added 11 rebounds.  Forest Lake was led by Abby Groeneweg with 13 points and Rice added 11.

The Lightning improved their record to 25-5 and will face the Stillwater Ponies in the Class AAAA semifinals Thursday, March 14 at 8 PM at Williams Arena.  Forest Lake will battle the Shakopee Sabers in the Class AAAA consolation semifinals, also on the 14th at noon at Ganglehoff Center on the Concordia University campus in St. Paul.