Sometimes it's good to slow down and take time -- even during an intense basketball game.  Maple Grove coach Mark Cook implored his team to do just that at halftime of the Crimson's 52-48 victory over Prior Lake in the Breakdown Sports Tip Off Classic at Hopkins. 

The Crimson, which trailed by six at the break, eventually took the lead for good on two free throws from senior guard Courtney Jones with 1:36 remaining.  It was part of a game-ending stretch in which Maple Grove made 9-of-12 free throws.

"I thought we played too fast in the first half, as far as offensively.  We were too impatient," said Cook, who wanted his team to slow down in the second half and use all its weapons.

"We were tired because we were on defense 75 percent of the time," said Cook of the 25-19 halftime deficit.  "We were shooting too quickly."

Senior guard Stephanie Davison admitted the team seemed in a hurry early, as they were trying to find a rhythm.  After taking a deep breath at halftime, the Crimson outscored the Lakers 33-23 the rest of the way.

"Our intensity went up a lot and we made our free throws at the end," said Davison, who finished with a team-high 14 points.

Stephanie Pappas (12 points) and Ellen Edison (11) also finished in double-figure scoring.  The Crimson were without their starting post, Anna Gerdes, who missed the game with a concussion.

Prior Lake was paced by Erica Trabing (13 points), Mariah Hovick (9) and Megan Pold (8). 

Stephanie Davison, Maple Grove
Davison, a Northern Iowa recruit, was a key factor in the Crimson's 52-48 victory over Prior Lake.  Maple Grove was actually trailing by six at halftime, but found its offensive touch in the second half, led by Davison's 14 points.  She hit a pair of three-pointers and was also a key ball-handler against the Lakers.

Scoring by half: Maple Grove 25-27--52, Prior Lake 19-29--48

Maple Grove: S. Davison 14, Pappas 12, Edison 11, C. Jones 8, A. Davidson 4, Holland 2

Prior Lake: Trabing 13, Hovick 9, Pold 8, D. Busse 7, Flaata 4, Simpkins 3, Eschrich 2, Risvito 1, L. Busse 1