“We knew that we were the underdogs, so we had nothing to lose, but they [MACCRAY] had everything to lose,” YME senior Alana Almich said. “We went out with full physicality and everything. We were ready to go. We gave everything, and that was our mindset.”

The Sting gave the 2025 section champions and Class A state runners-up a run for their money throughout the first half, particularly with contagious 3-point shooting on both sides. The Wolverines, however, turned the dial up on defense which turned into points to pull away late in the half, and YME wasn’t able to fully recover from there.

“We definitely knew that we had to be more physical. They [MACCRAY] are a very strong and physical team. We had to battle on the rebound,” YME head coach Lucas Christoffer said. “Going in as the underdog, the lower seed, you have nothing to lose. I said, ‘Shoot confident and let it go.'”

Almich had a stellar shooting performance from the perimeter, going 7 of 13 from deep and finished with a team-high 27 points on 50% field-goal shooting and led with eight rebounds. Her and Bayli Sneller made up for the Stings’ 10 total 3-pointers, as Sneller shot 3 of 6. Sneller also had four rebounds and finished with 11 points.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Yellow Medicine East senior Abby Gullickson begins to go up for a layup in the second half against MACCRAY on Saturday in the Section 3A North subsection quarterfinals at Montevideo High School.

“I haven’t shot like that in a while,” Almich said, laughing. “Bayli Sneller, she’s a really good shooter, too. It’s nice that we were both on.”

YME’s Sneller and Almich both had the hot-hand from the perimeter in the opening half, both making a few each.

The Sting got off to a 6-0 start to open the game with a 3-pointer from Sneller and Almich back-to-back, with YME also playing in a zone defense to begin.

MACCRAY senior Brielle Janssen, a basketball commit for the nationally Division II top-ranked Minnesota State Mankato squad, didn’t take long to find her rhythm and powered the Wolverines to their 14-point halftime lead.

“I knew our girls wouldn’t quit. They would rise to the occasion, and play as hard as they could,” Christoffer said.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Yellow Medicine East senior Bayli Sneller brings the ball up the court in the second half against MACCRAY in the second half against MACCRAY on Saturday in the Section 3A North subsection quarterfinals at Montevideo High School.

The two teams went on for a competitive 9-9 start to the game, and YME took to a 12-11 edge with another 3-pointer from Almich from the right wing, where she had just hit one prior.

Sneller then grabbed a steal for an open fastbreak layup to build the Stings’ lead to 14-11 and forced MACCRAY to call a timeout.

Janssen began to heat up from there following the reset, and made a string of baskets to give the Wolverines a 5-point lead, 21-16. But, Sneller quickly brought the Sting back within a possession after drilling in a 3 of her own with 6:30 to go in the opening half.

MACCRAY and YME exchanged a few 3-pointers over the course of a few posessions, as the Sting stayed within reach and continued to challenge the Wolverines.

But, MACCRAY began to put a hard emphasis on its defense to fluster YME in return, ultimately pulling away behind forced turnovers and continuing to knock down shots.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Yellow Medicine East senior Alana Almich begins to shoot a 3-pointer on Saturday in the Section 3A North subsection quarterfinals at Montevideo High School.

The Wolverines made a habit to trap YME at the wings following the Stings’ first pass upon crossing half court, which allowed MACCRAY to begin taking control the rest of the way.

“They [MACCRAY] are a very long team with Brielle [Janssen, at 6-foot-1] at top. We tried to emulate that in practice,” Christoffer said. “We just tried to make sure we use ball fakes and that kind of thing, and tried to meet the passes.”

Janssen ended the half with back-to-back baskets for a MACCRAY 39-25 lead heading into the break.

Almich kept her hot hand going throughout the second half, but the Wolverines didn’t let up on their effort on either ends of the court to continue pulling away to finish off the night.

The Sting shot well at the foul line, going 6 of 7, notably with a 4 for 4 outing from Almich.

Photo by Samantha Davis: Yellow Medicine East senior Bayli Sneller (back of hug) hugs teammate Chasity Schmitz after being subbed out for the final time in her prep career on Saturday in the Section 3A North subsection quarterfinals at Montevideo High School.

Christoffer subbed out his three seniors in the final minute, as they hugged each of their teammates down the bench emotionally, with both smiles and tears present.

“I’ve been here since like seventh grade, we’re all like best friends,” Almich said, emotionally. “None of us fight, you can talk to anyone. It’s just meant a lot … They’re my best friends.”

The Stings’ senior class includes Sneller, Almich and Abby Gullickson.

“[They mean] the world. How much we just all cried [in the locker room] and couldn’t get words out to explain how much they meant to us in all different ways. I’ve been with them from juior high to senior year, so it’s tough,” Christoffer said. “Abby Gullickson, she’s like a mom for us. Anything you’d ask, she would be there. Alana is similar, and she’d always be after [practice] shooting shots and that type of thing. Bayli Sneller is always a leader and has encourages the younger kids.”

Through the ups and downs, the Sting had had a memorable season and never gave up their fight, noted by both Almich and Christoffer. YME also had a trio of 1,000-point scorers on the team this season, in Sneller, Almich and Baylie Mortenson.

The Sting reached Saturday’s quarterfinals after defeating No. 10 Lac qui Parle Valley in the section play-in 68-56 on Thursday, and their 9-18 finishing record is the same as their 2024-25 campaign as well.