Lady Bulldogs nearing the end to conference season with 2-1 record over the week of play

By Kelsie Hoitomt

The Lady Bulldogs were on the road Tuesday this past week with a game in Mondovi and then they were home Friday night to host Plum City/Elmwood. They lost to the Buffaloes 39-37, but beat the Wolves 52-36.

They were back on the road Monday, February 16 to play a non-conference game against Chetek/Weyerhaeuser that resulted in a two game winning streak for the Lady Dogs as the score was 46-26.

Overtime loss in Mondovi

It was a battle on Tuesday night with both teams fighting tooth and nail until the very end. The Bulldogs led 11-7 in the first quarter, but fell behind 21-14 at the half.

In the third, they upped their game and played a strong quarter, which put them down by one (32-31) going into the fourth.

The Bulldogs scored six points in the final eight minutes, which was enough to tie the ball game as the Buffaloes only made two baskets for five.

With the score at 37-37 when the buzzer rang, that meant over time play. The shots were limited and in the end, Mondovi came out on top after Haley Poeschel was fouled and made two free throws for the win.

In the first quarter Cassie Malean and Lexi Peterson were the driving force under the net with two doubles each. Madysn Riek pushed a shot in herself and then had a free throw.

The second quarter was a big scoring dip for the Bulldogs. They went from 11 points posted to three with a shot from Riek and then a free throw by Morgan Kuhn made during the entire eight minutes.

Out of the break, the Bulldogs turned up their momentum and came out swinging with 17 points scored against the Buffaloes’ 11.

The ball was shared throughout the lineup with a three and a double from Peterson, a free throw and a double from Malean and Abbey Bird and then Marki Lagerstrom, Riek and Kuhn each made a two point basket.

The Bulldogs pushed the game into over time after Shyanne Marlett connected with the hoop for her first two baskets of the night. Then Peterson and Malean made one free throw each for the tie.

The Bulldogs were scoreless in the over time play so they finished with 14 doubles, one triple and they made six free throws out of 17 attempts.

Peterson led in points with ten from her three doubles, one triple and one free throw. Malean followed with eight from her three doubles and two free throws. Then it was Riek with seven from three doubles and one free throw.

Marlett had her two doubles for four. Kuhn and Bird had their one double and one free throw for three and Lagerstrom had her two points.

Win over the Wolves

The Bulldogs reclaimed a win on Friday night with their 52-36 victory over the Wolves.

The contest started with the Bulldogs up 12-5 with a pair of treys from Peterson, two doubles from Malean and one from Kuhn.

They were consistent on scoring in the second quarter with an additional 12 points posted, which was a slight deficit to the Wolves’ 14.

This time it was Marlett with a pair of shots off the glass for four points. Kuhn had a free throw and then a double and Peterson and Malean each made a shot.

The Bulldogs clearly did not like that they had been outscored so after the half time break they went all out with 20 points put up against the Wolves’ eight for a 44-27 lead going into the fourth.

Bird connected with the net for two treys and Brooklyn Hellmann and Malean each had one as well.

The girls were not only playing strong from outside the arc, but inside as well. Riek knocked in two doubles and Kuhn had one.

They continued to use their inside game into the fourth quarter with two shots from Malean and one by Riek for six of their eight total points. Hellmann was also fouled and scored both her baskets.

The Bulldogs finished with 13 doubles, seven triples and five out of eight free throws made. The Wolves lost with 11 doubles, one triple and 11 free throws.

Malean was the points leader with 13 from five doubles and one triple. Peterson followed with nine from her three triples. Kuhn and Riek each had three doubles and one free throw for seven. Bird and Hellmann each finished with six points and Marlett had four.

Non-conference win on the road

The Bulldogs played their last non-conference game of this regular season on Monday night. They boasted a 20 point win over Chetek/Weyerhaeuser after leading by ten in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs were up ten to zip with a three by Peterson and a free throw to get the ball rolling. Kuhn and Hellmann each drove in a basket for two and then Riek put down two free throws for the Bulldogs’ first points.

Peterson was the driving force in the second quarter with not one but three treys hit. She finished the quarter with a double for 11 of their 13 points. Riek made a two point shot for the rest.

They shared the ball across the court in the third quarter, which accounted for their best offensive scoring of the game. They posted 16 points to C/W’s six for a 39-17 lead.

Kuhn started with two free throws and then pushed in two doubles. Bird drained her first three of the game. Hellmann, Peterson and Malean each had a double and Riek made a free throw.

The game ended with the Bulldogs scoring seven final points with two doubles and three free throws made. As a team, they finished with nine out of 14 free throws made and they had 11 doubles and five triples.

Peterson led in points with 17 from her four triples, two doubles and one free throw.

Kuhn and Riek followed with nine each; Morgan made three doubles and three free throws and Madysn had two doubles and five free throws. Malean and Hellmann each finished with four points and Bird had her one three.

The Bulldogs have one final conference game to play and that is scheduled for this Thursday (Feb. 19) against St. Croix Central in Hammond.

They will then head to the Regional tournament and their first game is against #4 seed, Glenwood City. They will play there on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs were seeded fifth in their Division 4 bracket. If they beat the #4 seed, they will go on to play #1 Colfax on Friday, February 27 in Colfax at 7:00 p.m.