Lady Bulldogs on a late season hot streak
By Kelsie Hoitomt
HAMMOND — The Boyceville girls’ basketball team played their last road game of the regular season on Thursday, February 14 against the St. Croix Central Panthers and won 50-40.
“It was definitely a game that indicated we did not have school during the day. We had a very sluggish first half. We were able in the first half to get to the free throw line ten times converting seven, which kept us with a lead at half time,” said coach Jolene Bird.
The Bulldogs had a four point lead going into the half with the score at 18-12. Other than free throws, Alexa Peterson had a trey in the opening minutes and Abbey Bird and Kysa Franseen had the other four baskets.
Out from the locker room after the half, the Bulldogs were back in their groove and posted 13 points in the third quarter for a 31-23 lead and then 19 points in the fourth. The final eight minutes was a free throw frenzy with the Bulldogs draining nine out of 17 attempts.
The Panthers played their best game in the fourth quarter with 17 points scored, which included five free throws and two triples, but that still wasn’t enough to take a lead or get the win.
“We were slow defensively throughout the game contributing to us committing 19 fouls and giving them too many opportunities at the free throw line. But, overall it was a good win for us heading down the stretch,” explained coach Jolene Bird.
Abbey Bird has been a strong leader on the team and has played a key role in the Bulldogs’ four game winning streak recently. She led the game in points with 19 from seven deuces, one triple and two free throws.
Franseen had 11 points from four deuces and three free throws. She also led the team in rebounds with seven defensive and three offensive. Brooklynn Blaser had eight points, all from free throws as she was eight for 11 at the line. Kennedy Hellmann had seven from two baskets and three free throws. And Peterson had five from the trey and two free throws.
The Bulldogs play their last conference game on Thursday, February 21 at home against Mondovi. Their first round of Regional play will be at home against Spring Valley on Tuesday, February 26 starting at 7:00 p.m.