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FARGO (NewsDakota.com)–Friday night, the Hi-Liner girls basketballt team put up numbers in every category needed to win a big game against a ranked opponent on the road.

 

They shot 43% from the floor, hit more free throws than the opposition attempted, fought to a draw in the rebounding category, and hit more three-point shots.

 

But the category that has hurt the Hi-Liners all year did it again.

 

Turnovers.

 

Valley City turned the ball over 26 times in West Fargo, and lost to the state’s second-ranked team on the road 69-56 Friday night.

 

Packer Lexi Lennon erupted for 16 of her 21 after halftime, a half that saw the fifth-leading scorer in the Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) held to just two field goals.

 

Allyson Suhr’s 17 points led the Hi-Liners in the loss. Mariah Olstad scored 15, and the two combined for 20 of their 37 after halftime.

 

The Hi-Liners trailed 33-24 at the break, and cut the lead to two possessions several times in the second half, staring down a taller, 8-1 Packer team on their own floor to keep doubt in the game. But when Valley City got it’s chance, it did not capitalize.

 

Valley City cut the lead to four late, and forced as stop on defense, giving the Hi-Liners a chance to cut the lead to one possession. They promptly threw the ball away in transition, forcing a pass against numbers into the post.

 

After earning another stop, they settled for a transition three-point shot early in the shot clock, and missed. It was a frustrating set of plays that never gave the Hi-Liners a good look to put more pressure on the Packers.

 

West Fargo took advantage, and ran their lead to 15 points, their largest of the night, before coasting to a 13-point win.

 

The Packers moved their record, but overall and EDC, to 9-1. The loss drops the Hi-Liners 5-5 overall, 3-3 in EDC play. Their next action is at Grand Forks Central February 3rd.