“Double steal” usually invokes visions of runners breaking from first and third, not defending the post in a pressure packed basketball game.

Mikala Nelton, however, pulled off a double steal, drove the length of the court before being fouled and drained two clutch free throws to lead Cotter to a  nailbiting 46-42 victory over Zumbrota-Mazeppa on February 25, before an energetic crowd at the John Nett Rec. Center

With the Ramblers protecting a two point lead with around 20 seconds to play, Z-M advanced the ball with the hopes of going inside to their best player, 6’1 sophomore post Lauren Miller,

Kirsten Weifenbach had tight ball pressure on the right wing when her girl attempted a low arcing entry pass to Miller who was set up on the block.  Nelton, who had baseline coverage, stepped through and, with her inside hand, cleanly knocked the ball away from Miller and back towards the wing.

As Weifenbach reacted to the play, the loose ball ended up in a Cougar player’s hands at the elbow, who swung it to the point.

With players and fans heads turning in reaction to the chain of events, and all sorts of possibilites for Z-M (Shoot a game winning 3? Dump it back in to the now uncovered Miller? Attack the rim?), Nelton made a burst toward the point and cleanly picked the ball from the back side as the Z-M dribbler looked to the left wing.

With the crowd on its feet, Nelton, drove the court and was fouled going up for a layup.  After a Z-M timeout, Nelton, who had shot a low percentage for the year, calmly buried both attempts and Cotter advanced to the next round to face the #3 seeded Hayfield Vikings on March 2, in Rochester.