CASS LAKE 鈥� For almost every high school basketball player, scoring 57 points in two days would be a lifelong memory.
For Gabby Fineday, it was predictable.
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Every single one of the Cass Lake-Bena girls basketball faithful knew the Panthers鈥� games on Thursday and Friday would be record-breaking. So much so that head coach Martin Wind put it in writing.
鈥淪he will break Taryn (Frazer鈥檚) record tomorrow and mine on Friday,鈥� the CLB head coach said in a text to the Pioneer on Wednesday.
Wind鈥檚 prophecy was spot on.
Fineday surpassed Frazer鈥檚 program scoring mark with a 30-point game on Thursday in a 90-57 win over Pine River-Backus. And after receiving a behind-the-back pass, Fineday drove to the cup to become the school鈥檚 scoring champion against Class AA鈥檚 seventh-ranked Proctor at the CLB gymnasium.
鈥淚鈥檝e watched her do this a thousand times,鈥� Wind said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e not guarding her, she鈥檚 going to knock it down. Every time she shoots I think it鈥檚 going in. That鈥檚 how much confidence I have in her. She鈥檚 unbelievable. 鈥� It鈥檚 going to hurt when she graduates. You look at all of these kids out here playing and watching the games, they鈥檙e here for her.鈥�
Frazer graduated with 2,597 points in 2022. Wind graduated in 2010 with 2,622 points, which is the most of any boys player in school history.
In a span of less than 48 hours, Fineday surpassed them both. She scored 27 points in a 57-56 loss against the Rails on Friday.
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鈥淚鈥檓 just honored,鈥� Fineday said. 鈥淲hen I started playing varsity basketball in seventh grade, this wasn鈥檛 the goal. I never thought that this was what I was going to do. I just wanted to play, I wanted to win. This happened along the way, and I鈥檓 glad I鈥檒l get to see my name up there with all of those girls.鈥�
Fineday entered the half with 16 points while the Panthers led 26-22, but it took her a little bit to get going in the second frame. After she nailed a 3-pointer, Fineday forced a half-court turnover and hit another. Wind called a timeout after her history-making layup to commence the celebration with eight minutes left.
Fineday hugged her teammates and coaches before running to the bleachers to greet her family and friends. It鈥檚 a process that鈥檚 become a routine for the fabled CLB guard.
鈥淚鈥檝e done that a lot of times, and each time is memorable,鈥� Fineday said. 鈥淭o see a bunch of smiles when you go up in the stands, everyone is so happy for you. You never feel that way in life, just so supported by the community, family and friends. I鈥檓 just glad I got to have them here for this.鈥�
For as much as Fineday and Wind have in common throughout their Cass Lake-Bena basketball careers, she said she鈥檚 leaned on him for support throughout her varsity career.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been a really good example for me,鈥� Fineday said. 鈥淗e has different ways to look at each game. We have similar expectations for us when we鈥檙e players, so he knows what to give me. To have him as a role model, he helps me navigate through these games and these moments.鈥�
Wind also sees aspects of himself in Fineday.
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鈥淵esterday in Pine River, she was missing layups, missing shots she normally makes,鈥� Wind said. 鈥淚 just told her to relax. I told her, 鈥楬ey, I did this too. I know what it鈥檚 like.鈥� 鈥� Today, we talked this morning for about an hour. I told her to not worry about the score. She didn鈥檛 even care about the record (during the game). She didn鈥檛 know how many points she had at halftime. She just wanted to win.鈥�
Despite her calm demeanor, Fineday admitted that these games came with added pressure.
鈥淵esterday, my nerves were kind of getting to me,鈥� she continued. 鈥淭oday, I wanted to step up. I鈥檓 transforming into the leader I want to be. This game meant a lot to me because I had a different mindset than I鈥檝e ever had before. I just want to win, and in the game, I鈥檓 going to let it come to me.鈥�
Fineday will be the first CLB girls player since 2007 to play for the Bemidji State women鈥檚 basketball team next fall. She鈥檚 also the 11th player Wind has coached that will advance to the collegiate level.
鈥淣ext year, I鈥檓 going to be a freshman again,鈥� Fineday said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 going to go in with the leadership skills and traits that are going to make my team better no matter what. On this team, I鈥檓 the biggest role model for the younger girls. I want to keep being a role model, keep giving back to them. I want to share my love for the game with everybody.鈥�
After Finday鈥檚 celebratory moment, Brooklyn Graves scored six consecutive points to help CLB take a 10-point lead with less than seven minutes left.
Proctor, however, went on an 8-0 run, which included a 3-pointer from Paige Evans to make it a one-possession game. Chloe Carlson converted a mid-range jumper to tie the game at 48 with four minutes left.
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Proctor retook the lead on Peyton Walker鈥檚 turnaround, shot-clock-beating, 35-foot heave. After a pair of Cass Lake-Bena free throws, Wind called timeout down 51-50 with just under three minutes left.
Terri and Annika Wind each made two free throws to retake a three-point lead for the Panthers with under two minutes left. Carlson answered with a game-tying 3-pointer with 75 seconds remaining in regulation before Fineday sank a mid-range shot from 20 feet.
After Proctor made a free throw, Carlson made a layup with 12 seconds left to put the Rails ahead 57-56. Terri Wind鈥檚 buzzer-beating attempt missed wide on the other end to cement a one-point loss for the Panthers.
鈥淲e worked pretty hard on getting this schedule,鈥� Wind said. 鈥淲e got Minnehaha Academy on the schedule, we got Proctor, (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa), Hancock, and it shows what this team can do. I鈥檝e told people for the last three years since Taryn left that we have a chance to win, that we have a chance to not just go to state but to win state. (Proctor) has a really good chance to go to state in AA, and I think these girls saw tonight that they can play with anyone.鈥�
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