The Medford girls basketball team led most of the way in their 50-44 win over Tri-City United Tuesday night. But the Tigers needed a strong finish after the Titans rallied from a double-digit, second-half deficit to briefly take a 40-39 lead with under five minutes to play. Medford sophomore Andrea Bock immediately answered Kaitlyn Lang's three for TCU with a trey of her own to put Medford back up 42-40. The Tigers closed on an 11-4 run to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Bock hit the next two Medford buckets for a 46-44 lead. Tiger senior Jenna Berg drilled both ends of a one-and-one with less than a minute to go. Medford junior Clara Kniefel also connected on a pair of free throws for the final margin of 50-44.

Medford led 25-16 at halftime and came out with a strong defensive effort in the second half that forced five turnovers in TCU's first six possessions. The Tigers only managed one basket during that time to push their lead to 27-16. Tri-City mounted a 15-4 run to tie the game at 31-31 and set the stage for the exciting finish.

Bock scored 24 points and grabbed about 10 rebounds. Kniefel scored six. Berg added five. Bella Steffen and MacKenzie Kellen each hit a key field goal in the second half. Brooke Purrier scored four early points and delivered numerous assists. Jess Dull led TCU with 15 points and at least 11 rebounds. Lang added 9.

Medford goes to NRHEG Friday, January 22.

Scoreboard, Tuesday, January 19, 2021:
Boys basketball
No. 1-AA Waseca 77, NRHEG 29
Rockford 82, Medford 41
Austin 82, Faribault 44
Cannon Falls 61, Kenyon-Wanamingo 54
JWP 54, USC 51
St. Peter 54, Kasson-Mantorville 34
Winona 60, Red Wing 54

Girls basketball
Medford 50, TCU 44
Blooming Prairie 69, Lyle/Pacelli 24 (Megan Oswald 24, Bobbie Bruns 14)
Austin 76, Faribault 32
Cannon Falls 57, Kenyon-Wanamingo 17
Jordan 57, Waseca 48
Mankato East 60, Albert Lea 52

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