Viking girls cop first conference win over Spring Valley Cardinals

By Cara L. Dempski

SPRING VALLEY — The only other game the Colfax Vikings girls basketball team has won this season was its November 22 non-conference battle against St. Croix Central that ended with the Vikings on the top end of a 56-52 score.

Coach Joe Doucette’s team then waited three weeks to tack another W onto its record, which it did December 13 with a 59-22 victory, it’s first in conference action, in an away game against the Spring Valley Cardinals.

After narrowly losing to another conference foe, Boyceville, on December 8, the win was a welcome one.

“The Boyceville loss was tough, and it really put us behind some good teams in the conference,” Doucette said. “This win felt good, and hopefully we get a bunch more as we go.”

Freshmen Kameri Meredith and Jayna Bowe provided spark for the team, with Meredith leading Colfax’s scoring with 13, and Bowe providing another five. Senior Bryana Buchanan ramped up her play and came away with 11 points for the Vikings on a three-pointer and four field goals.

“She (Buchanan) got a few shots to drop and attacked the basket,” Doucette stated. “We know from last year that when she plays well, we become a lot better.”

Buchanan’s classmate, Ally Heidorn, did not trail far behind her, putting in a three, a pair of field goals, and a free shot to take credit for eight points. Savannah Henricks logged seven points with a pair of charity shots, a field goal, and a three, and Emma Hurlburt recorded six with a pair each of field goals and free throws.

Sophomore Alyssa Dachel dropped in a single shot from outside the arc and two free throws for five points, Morgan Schleusner picked up three with a field goal and free throw, and Hailey Prince sank a free throw for one point.

Spring Valley’s Ally Lee led the Cardinals with six points.

Doucette said his team will continue to work hard, as he feels they can be very good. He stated the team has not put everything together yet, but the pieces of a very good team are all there.

The Colfax girls rivalry game in Elk Mound, scheduled for last Friday, December 16, was postponed until January 17 because of snow and cold.

The Lady Vikings will wrap-up their pre-holiday slate with a game at Eau Claire Regis this Thursday, December 22.

Colfax will also play in the 24th Annual AAU Chris Griffin Holiday Classic on December 27 and 28 at UW-Stout. It will take on Ashland on December 27 and Baldwin-Woodville the following day.

COLFAX 59, SPRING VALLEY 22

Colfax………………………………26  33 — 59
Spring Valley………………………13   9 — 22

TEAM STATISTICS (FG-FT-F-T)

Colfax (14-16-14-59) A. Dachel 0-2-1-5, M. Schleusner 1-1-3-3, A. Heidorn 2-1-2-8, K. Meredith 3-7-3-13, S. Henricks 1-2-1-7, B. Buchanan 4-0-0-11, J. Bowe 1-0-2-5, H. Prince 0-1-0-1, E. Hurlburt 2-2-2-6.

Spring Valley (5-8-19-22) T. Huntress 1-2-1-4, C. Wegener 0-4-1-4, S. Bune 2-0-2-4, H. Anderson 0-0-1-0, K. Schreiber 1-0-3-2, A. Lee 2-2-3-6, L. Johansen 0-0-3-0, G. Larson 1-0-5-2.

THREE-POINTERS C — A. Dachel 1, A. Heidorn 1, S. Henricks 1, B. Buchanan 1, J. Bowe 1.