ABOVE: Fairmont's Norah Traetow fires a pass to a waiting Ellie Ortega setting up a shot during a girl's basketball game against New Richland Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Tuesday night at home

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Cardinals opened their 2024-25 season at home Tuesday night with a 52-44 win over New Richland Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva.

“We definitely noticed some things that we need to work on,” said Fairmont girls head basketball coach Sara Junkermeier. “Things that are fundamental skills that are just going to make us better down the road. I think when you start identifying those things and talking about them more regularly, it just becomes something that we consistently do.”

Leading the Cardinals was Brylee Miller, who went 8 for 13 for 29 points while adding six rebounds. Kennedy Becker went 4 for 5 for 14 points and added five rebounds, while Ellie Ortega had 7 points and added two rebounds. Makayla Lowry put up 7 points and added two rebounds.

The Cardinals’ next game is against Lake-Crystal Wellcome Memorial at 7:15 p.m. on Dec 3.

Due to an early deadline for the Nov. 27 edition of The Sentinel, a full story will be printed in this Friday’s edition.