Thrilling Comeback: Okerman and Sleepy Eye Girls Triumph Over Lester Prairie!

Cadence Okerman drives to the hoop during a girls basketball game against Lester Prairie at Sleepy Eye High School.

SLEEPY EYE — The atmosphere was intense on Monday as Sleepy Eye faced Lester Prairie in a close girls basketball game. With just 2.8 seconds remaining and the score tied, Cadence Okerman stepped up to the free-throw line.

Okerman sank both shots, clinching a thrilling 74-71 victory for Sleepy Eye. “It was just an adrenaline rush,” she shared after the game. “I trusted my muscle memory and just let it fly. Fortunately, they went in.”

This exciting win came after a remarkable comeback. Sleepy Eye fell behind by 19 points early in the first half, trailing 34-15. However, the team didn’t give up. With Okerman hitting a key three-pointer in the second half, they tied the score at 55.

“We finally figured out their defense,” Okerman explained. “The middle was open, so we attacked that area and moved the ball around. Once we started scoring, our confidence surged.”

Okerman finished the game with impressive stats: 21 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Her teammate, Paige Haala, also scored 21 points and contributed with 11 rebounds and four assists. Taylor Berkner added 16 points, while Sam Price chipped in with 9 points and four rebounds.

The match began competitively, but Lester Prairie quickly took control, going on a 21-0 run. Haala finally broke the scoring drought for Sleepy Eye, allowing them to close the gap to 36-20 by halftime.

Sleepy Eye picked up the pace in the second half. Berkner opened with a three-pointer, and a subsequent three from Price brought them closer at 38-33. They kept the momentum going, with Okerman’s three-pointer tying the game at 55, followed by Haala taking the lead with a layup.

The game remained closely contested, with teams exchanging leads. Haala’s free throws put Sleepy Eye ahead 71-68, but Lester Prairie’s Anah Lee tied the game again. In the final moments, Okerman’s free throws and solid defense sealed the win.

With this victory, Sleepy Eye improved their record to 15-7 and stands 11-3 in the conference. Looking ahead, Okerman noted, “This win is a huge confidence boost. It shows that when we play together, we can achieve great things. We’re excited for the playoffs.”

Next up, Sleepy Eye will face Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop on Thursday.