GC girls see early lead evaporate in loss to EM
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TAKING THE BALL to the hoop is Glenwood City senior Kassidi Thompson during second-half action in the Lady Toppers’ home game against the Mounders of Elk Mound last Thursday. Thompson finished with two points but Glenwood City lost 67-47 in the December 19 game. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
By Missy Klatt
Sports Correspondent
GLENWOOD CITY — Glenwood City girls had methodically built a five-point lead over visiting Elk Mound over for much of the first-half of last Thursday’s, December 19, Dunn-St. Croix basketball contest. But the Toppers’ watched as their hard work was quickly erased in the waning minutes of the half as the Mounders’ full-court pressure begin to yield dividends including an 18-1 run that gave Elk Mound a 12-point advantage heading into the intermission.
Unfortunately for the Hilltoppers, the Lady Mounders picked up where they had left off in the first, charging to a commanding lead with an 18-2 run to open the second half en route to 67-47 win over Glenwood City, who was playing in its only contest of the week.
Elk Mound’s constant pressure eventually wore down the Glenwood City players which led to several turnovers for the home squad.
It was a fast paced first half with Elk Mound employing that full-court press. But Glenwood City struck first when Makiah Schutz hit for two under the basket with 16:40 on the play clock.
As the half continued, the score remained close with Toppers beating the press and finding Schutz under the basket.
“I’m very positive with our girls,” commented Glenwood City head coach Dean Fayerweather. “They came out being down a ball handler (Delanie Fayerweather is out with an injury) but we broke their press; something that has been our Achilles for a long time.”
The Toppers were leading 10-9 with about 12 minutes left to play when the Mounders had a four-point run.
Maddie Oehlke then scored six points to the Mounders five to narrow the gap to two at 16-18. With the clock reading 7:52, Kassidi Thompson hit the second of her two free throws to pull to within one. About forty seconds later Oehlke sank a bucket to give the Toppers a 19-18 lead. Schutz then added four more unanswered points and with just under four minutes left in the half they had a five point lead at 23-18.
DOUBLE TEAMED — Glenwood City forward Madelyn Oehlke (#5) looked to split the Mounders’ double team during the Lady Toppers’ home conference contest last Thursday, December 19. Oehlke was able to get off the shot and score on the play. The junior finished with 18 points to lead all scorers but it was not enough as Elk Mound won 67-47. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
However, over the next three minutes aided by some turnovers from the Toppers (which plagued them all game), the Mounders went on a 12-point run to take a 30-23 lead. Bella Rassbach then hit the front half of a one-and-one before the Mounders finished off the half with two three-pointers in the last twenty seconds to take a 36-24 lead into the locker room.
Despite scoring first in the second half, it was apparent that the Toppers were tired after running against the full court press. Add to that, way too many unforced turnovers and Schutz racking up her fourth foul about three minutes into the second half and the results weren’t good.
The Mounders went on an 18-point scoring run to take a 54-25 lead with twelve and a half minutes left to play.
The Toppers settled down then and were able to exchange baskets for a while.
Never ones to quit, the Lady Toppers kept battling back. With just over ten minutes left in the game, Glenwood City found itself down by 30 points – 60-30 – when they went on a six-point run.
But, then over the next couple of minutes of play, the Mounders outscored the Toppers 7-4. At this point, the teams went up and down the court for about three minutes with neither team sinking a basket.
Oehlke finally put some more points on the board for Glenwood City with a drive to the basket with 1:48 left on the clock. The Toppers then went three-for-four at the foul line, making the score 45-66.
With under a minute to play, the Mounders added one more point in the form of a free throw. Rassbach then had the last points of the game when she hit a short jumper with about three seconds on the clock.
Despite the loss, Coach Fayerweather remarked, “I’m pleased. I was happy we were up by five at one point.”
Fayerweather went on to say that he couldn’t ask for more. He praised the play of Maddie Oehlke and Bella Rassbach saying that he needed them to pick up their play and they played a very good game and handled the ball well. He also noted that Yasmin Leandro-Mendez played an excellent rebounding ball game.
Maddie Oehlke led the Toppers and all scorers with 18 points with Makiah Schutz adding 14 despite foul trouble.
The Toppers, who now have an overall record of 3-4 and 1-3 conference mark, will host Osceola this Friday, December 27 at 5:30 p.m. in a non-conference matchup. That game is part of a doubleheader that will see the Topper boys take on Ellsworth in the nightcap. The ladies are then off until Tuesday, January 7 when they host Independence in an out-of-league contest.
Glenwood City (47)
FG-FT-F-T: Rassbach 2-3-1-7, Oehlke 8-2-2-18, Ullom 0-2-0-2, Thompson 0-2-3-2, Leandro-Mendez 2-0-0-4, Schutz 7-0-4-14, Buttles 0-0-1-0. Total 19-9-11-47.
Elk Mound (67)
FG-FT-F-T: Emery 2-0-1-5, Hollister 0-1-1-1, T. Blaskowski 4-2-2-11, H. Blaskowski 5-3-2-15, Schreiber 4-0-4-8, Rhude 0-0-0-0, Cedarblade 5-0-2-14, Schaefer 6-1-3-13. Total 26-7-15-67.
Glenwood City 24 23 — 47
Elk Mound 36 31 — 67
3-point goals: Elk Mound: Emery, T. Blaskowski, H. Blaskowski 2, Cedarblade 4.