Photo by Samantha Davis. Westbrook Walnut Grove's Riley Parker moves past Russell-Tyler-Ruthton's defense going for a layup in the second half at RTR High School Friday night. Parker finished with 17 points in the Chargers' 42-36 win. 

TYLER — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Westbrook Walnut Grove girls basketball teams played a hard fought battle Friday night in a game of steals and gritty defense. After getting a double-digit lead erased, the Chargers persevered for a 42-36 victory behind Leah Carter’s 20 points.

“I thought it was a tough conference battle. Coming into the game, just based on some of their (RTR’s) previous games, we knew they were going to be a pretty tough opponent,” WWG head coach Dan Klumper said. “All my girls played with a competitive spirit. That was the main thing I was looking for.”

In addition to Carter, Riley Parker followed with 17 points. For WWG, Makayla Hesse finished with a team-high 12 points behind a trio of 3-pointers.

RTR struggled to start, but turned things around in the second half and eventually tied the game up. The Knights were able to find success with its full-court press, but both teams continued to steal off each other the entire night. The difference was WWG’s effective shooting in the paint.

“We played solid enough to get the W. But, I was proud of the girls,” Klumper said. “There were some ups and downs. There was some adversity, but I felt like we stuck together and kept competing.”

The Chargers built up a 25-17 advantage going into halftime. They went on an 11-0 run to start the game, with 9 of those points coming from Parker’s two 3-pointers, a field goal and a free throw, before RTR could get on the board with Ava Karbo’s And-1 with a free throw.

Karbo finished with 7 points.

“I think that (starting 11-0) was important, because we want to start out the game and really set the tone. I felt like we did that offensively and defensively,” Klumper said. “I was proud that we set the tone like that so well.”

Parker led all scorers with 11 points in the first half, while RTR’s Hesse had 7.

“Number one, we started off slow. We need an even start or a quicker start,” RTR head coach Steve Hesse said. “But, the girls were pretty resilient. They battled back … We just couldn’t get over that last little hump. We got a little bit tired, and we talked about foul troubles and turnovers.”

WWG put themselves in a strong position early on by controlling several aspects of the game.

The Chargers forced steals, many of which were taken off pass attempts into the lane. RTR also grabbed a few steals, but struggled to convert it to points.

The Knights’ full-court press flustered the Chargers at times, but generally were able to break through.

“We have some girls that don’t have a lot of experience against the full court press. It’s all about trying to find where the openings are, being able to slow down and see the court,” Klumper said. “Tonight was a really good opportunity to work at that, because they pressed us a lot. Had some success, but at times we broke it.”

Late in the half, Hesse brought some spark into RTR’s offense after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 21-15. But, WWG’s Carlie Ross got a steal off a Knights throw-in and put it up for an easy basket to halt a bigger run from taking place.

Addi Serreyn and Adalia Matzner grabbed an offensive board each for a putback to chip away at the Knights’ trail.

RTR began to fight back and pressure WWG as time was running down with its press, and switched into zone defense. It cut a double-digit deficit, that was held most the half, to just 8 points.

The Knights came into the second half looking more put together, and were able to even the game up at 27 with returning the favor of turning steals into points.

“We definitely had a lap that allowed them to come back,” Klumper said. “That’s one thing that we’ll talk about and watch on the film, and try to try to make it not happen again.”

Hesse hit a floater down the middle of the lane right after the break, and Avery Schreurs immediately got a steal off the press and went in for the fast break layup. Another 3-pointer from Hesse brought the game within 3, and a 3 from Laken Baartman tied the game up.

“They (RTR) made some adjustments (with the press) in there,” coach Hesse said. “When they make adjustments, we need to make adjustments, too. That’s the game of chess that we all play as coaches. That was a fun game.”

Carter helped to keep WWG slightly ahead over the next several minutes, between offensive board put backs and getting feeds inside from the wing.

“They (Parker and Carter) battled hard in the paint. RTR is tough in the paint as well, so our game plan was to go into the paint,” Klumper said. “I was proud of those two girls for just really battling down in the paint and getting buckets and free throws.”

Baartman sank another 3 from the top of the key to keep the game within 4 points at 36-32, after Parker made a pair of field goals.

“It’s (perimeter shooting) something we look for. We want to work it inside first, and then work it outside,” coach Hesse said. “But, when you face somebody 6-foot-1, like Leah (Carter) is a good post player, it’s tough to get your shots inside. So, then you got to work it in and get open up those shots outside.”

Baartman finished with 6 points.

With a minute to go and the Chargers’s holding a 39-34 lead, Carter hit a jumper in the lane and Hadley Jenniges got sent to the line after being fouled.

Although RTR got one more field goal in, WWG was able to hold off and survive the Knights’ rally back attempt.

“At that point (when a lead is taken away), the girls could easily fold and just get down in the dumps after losing a big lead,” Klumper said. “But, I thought my girls responded, stayed with it, and just kept competing, and found a way in the end.”

The Knights and Chargers will now have a week off for the holiday before returning to the court.

RTR, now 4-4 and has dropped four straight, will next play Central Minnesota Christian on Dec. 28 at 12:30 p.m., while WWG (6-3) will take on Canby on Dec. 27 at 12:30 p.m. Both games will take place at Southwest Minnesota State University’s R/A Facility.