Glenwood girls’ rally falls short against Elk Mound; beat Cameron Monday night

GLENWOOD CITY — After trailing Elk Mound by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Glenwood City girls began to slowly whittle away at the deficit.

It took some time but the Hilltoppers eventually drew even with the Dunn-St. Croix’ pre-season favorite midway through the second half in what was a crucial, early-season girls’ basketball conference showdown in Glenwood City last Thursday, December 3.

Jenesa Klinger’s rebound and two-point put back with 8:14 to play completed Glenwood City’s comeback as it knotted the game at 42.

But the Toppers would get no closer.

Freshman center Morgan Radtke scored to put Elk Mound back in front by two. Then junior Kamryn King sank three-point shots on back-to-back possessions that pushed the Mounders’ advantage to eight points.

Elk Mound, who employed a suffocating defensive pressure throughout the game that forced the Toppers to commit several turnovers, outscored Glenwood City 16-5 down the final stretch and claimed a 58-47 victory in what was the conference opener for both squads.

King and fellow junior Elizabeth Fasbender netted 17 and 16 points respectively to give Elk Mound a leg-up in the championship chase despite a 19-point effort from Glenwood City senior Morgan Kadinger.

Elk Mound improved to 1-0 in conference and 3-2 overall while Glenwood City slipped to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Dunn-St. Croix.

Held in check early, Kadinger began to establish herself midway through the first half. She scored six consecutive points to help kick off a rally that saw the Hilltoppers’ end the first half on a 12-5 run capped by a Maya Petersen’s steal and basket at the first-half buzzer that trimmed the deficit to eight points, 32-24, at intermission.

Elk Mound jumped to a quick 5-0 lead and expanded it to 15 points twice – 25-10 and 27-12. King was instrumental in establishing the Mounders’ quick start as she netted nine points including a three. Allie Weber and Sarah Winchester assisted as each scored five points from two-point and three-point baskets.

Elk Mound held a 32-24 advantage at half.

Klinger banged home a trey to open the second half. After a Kami King hoop, Petersen sank a free throw and Kadinger scored to cut the Mounders’ lead to four points which prompted a time out from their head coach Jordan Konshaug.

Winchester put down a three after breaking the huddle to give Elk Mound a seven-point cushion.

Gabby Peterson and Kadinger sank field goals only to have Fasbender counter with a pair of steals that she turned into easy lay ins, the latter resulted in a three-point play and a 42-34 Mounders’ lead.

Six straight points by Kadinger, a three and three free throws, brought the Hilltoppers to within a basket of the Mounders.

Klinger’s hoop then knotted the score and brought the Toppers’ bench and fans to their feet.

The euphoria was short lived, however, as Elk Mound regained its footing and ended the Toppers’ rally once and for all with a game-clinching offensive run that was buttressed by tight defensive pressure.

After pushing its lead back to nine points, Elk Mound cycled through its offensive scheme repeated to exhausted the game clock’s final few minutes.

The Toppers’ scoring total was complemented by Maya Petersen’s 11 points, seven from Jenesa Klinger and four points each from Becca Moll and Rachel Klatt.

Morgan Radtke tallied ten points to give the Mounders three players with double-digit scores.

Comets Crash

A trio of Glenwood City players scored double digits in a home contest Monday evening to propel the Hilltoppers to a 15-point win against the visiting Comets from Cameron.

Rachel Klatt netted 18 points, Jenesa Klinger tallied 15 points and Gabby Peterson scored ten as the Glenwood City girls’ basketball team topped Cameron 52-37 in a non-conference game played December 7 in the Toppers’ gym.

Glenwood City scored 26 points in both halves en route to its second victory in three games this season.

The Hilltoppers took a ten-point advantage into halftime, 26-16, after Klinger scored eight points off of a pair of treys and free throws while Gabby Peterson and Rachel Klatt added six points a piece in the opening 18 minutes of play.

Klatt, a strong inside force throughout the contest, shined in the second half when she scored six times to collect 12 of her game-high 18 points. Klinger added her a third triple of the game in the second half along with a pair of conventional field goals as the Toppers outscored the Comets 26-21 in the final half to cruise to victory.

Maya Petersen finished with five points – all off of free throws – and Mariah Voeltz and Morgan Kadinger each added a basket in the winning effort.

The Comets, 2-2, were led by sophomores Maddy Otto and Ali Kringe who finished with 12 and 10 points respectively.

The road beckons Glenwood City’s team as it has a pair of conference away games this week. The Toppers were in Plum City last night (Dec. 8) where they played Plum City/Elmwood. They then wrap up the two-game road trip with a visit to unbeaten Spring Valley this Friday, December 11.