Junior tri-captain Karson Richenberg scored a career-high 24 points, including 16 in the first half, as Byron-Bergen defeated Rochester Career-Minded Charter School 54-32 in a Class C1 Section V girls’ basketball first round playoff game.
The game was even through the early stages before the Bees went on an 11-0 run to open up a 15-4 first quarter lead.
Playing a two-three zone defense, they held RCMCS to only four baskets in the second quarter while adding 14 of their own with Richenberg three field goals and a pair of free throws, senior tri-captain Bethany Ezard a basket, Jenna Amesbury a put-back and Hailey Hubbard converting after a steal.
Byron-Bergen extended the lead to 18 in the third quarter, limiting the Royals to three baskets and sealed the win in the final quarter.
Richenberg added three rebounds to her 24 points, Ezard had nine points with nine rebounds and Hubbard scored seven points while sophomore Dana VanValkenberg had five points with nine rebounds. Jeanne Denson came off the bench to haul in six rebounds and senior tri-captain Alicyn Bizari also had six boards.
The Bees, seeded 15th after their 5-15 regular season, move on to play second-seed Caledonia-Mumford in Round Two.
