Lady Toppers get defensive in season-opening win at Prescott

PRESCOTT — A stiffling defensive effort led the Glenwood City girls basketball team to a lopsided 53-19 season-opening road win over the Prescott Cardinals November 19.

Despite putting up 53 points in its first contest of the 2015-16 hardwood season, Glenwood City head coach Justin Kuehndorf was more impressed by his charges early-season defensive deftness.

“I thought we played extremely well defensively,” stated Kuehndorf. “That was great to see in just our first game of the season.”

Glenwood City held Prescott to just 11 first-half points.

On the other end of the floor, the Toppers’ offense hit its stride early which included a trio of three-pointers for a 15-point cushion at the intermission. Gabby Peterson bagged a pair of those treys as she scored 11 of her game-high 12 points in the first half of play that saw the Hilltoppers take a 26-11 lead. Jenesa Klinger added seven points in the first 18 minutes of play with a three-pointer, a two-point hoop and a pair of free throws.

The Toppers tightened the defensive screws in the second half as it held the Cardinals’ offense to just eight points in the 18-minute frame.

Rachel Klatt was a low-post force in the latter half when she netted eight of her nine game points. Maya Petersen added a pair of baskets and two free throws, Mariah Voeltz scored four points as did Morgan Kadinger to help the Toppers finish strong with 27 second-half points in the 53-19 win.

Klatt, Petersen and Klinger finished with nine points each, Kadinger tallied seven, Mariah Voeltz chipped in for four and Becca Moll added three points.

Prescott’s Jenn Kleinschmidt topped the Cardinals’ scoring with nine points and Kelsey Penk finished with six points.

The Lady Toppers’ next game will not be until December 3 when Elk Mound will be in town for the home and conference opener.