Elk Mound girls sweep three games, move to 11-0 in conference play
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
ELK MOUND junior Lydia Levra (#15) scored two points on this layup during a February 2 home game against Boyceville. Levra finished wtih four points in a 64-20 Mounders’ win. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
Playing a trio of games in four days including back-to-back conference contests at home, the Elk Mound girls’ basketball team ran its most current win streak to five straight with victories in all three match ups.
Playing in Hammond last Tuesday, Janaury 31, the Lady Mounders had some offensive struggles, particularly in the second half, but were able to hold on to claim a 45-35 non-conference win over St. Croix Central who sits at the bottom of a strong Middle Border Conference.
Elk Mound had a much easier time of it when they hosted the two cellar dwellers of the Dunn-St. Croix Conference – Boyceville and Glenwood City – in back-to-back contests on Thursday and Friday, February 2 and 3. Using its quick starting offense, the Mounders scored a combined 102 first-half points in demolishing the Bulldogs 64-20 Thursday night and the Hilltoppers 80-32 the very next evening. The Glenwood City contest was a make up for the orginal January 19 date that was scrubbed due to bad weather.
With these three most recent triumphs, the Elk Mound girls moved to 11-0 in conference play and 19-1 overall with just four games left in the regular season which includes three D-SC contests.
Elk Mound has two road games this week. It was in Colfax (the Mounders lead the Vikes by two games) last night, February 7 and they go to Spring Valley this Friday, February 10. The ladies then return home next week for its final two games of the regular season hosting Bloomer in a Monday, February 13 non-conference contest and Elmwood-Plum City in the regular-season and conference finale on Thursday, February 16.
St. Croix Central
Elk Mound found itself in an early-game tussle when it visited St. Croix Central January 31.
Despite sporting just a 1-9 record in Middle Border action and 7-13 overall, the Panthers played with the Mighty Mounders for much of the first half. It wasn’t until the waning minutes that Elk Mound was able to open up a double-digits advantage as it went to intermission leading 28 to 17.
MOUNDER Stella Rhude (#35) is shown scoing two of her nine points in a February 2 home game against Boyceville which Elk Mound won 64-20. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
Elk Mound wasn’t able to grow that lead in the latter half as the host St. Croix Central kept the contest close. The Mounder held on for a 45-35 win.
“We struggled a bit offensively, said head coach Jordon Kongshaug of the St. Croix Central game.
“But, we were consistent in our defensive effort,” which Kongshaug said help his team get the win.
Tori Blaskowski was the only Mounder to finish in double digits with 15 points including a 5-for-9 effort at the line. She also topped the team in rebounds, along with Stella Rhude as both finished with five. Ellie Schiszik finish with nine points while Lydia Levra and Rhude contributed seven each.
Elk Mound, who was outboarded (30 to 20) and outscored from behind the three-point arc (5 to 3) by St. Croix Central, made 8 of its 14 foul shots.
Alayna Hackbarth tallied 10 points and Delaney Lloyd had nine to top the Panthers’ scoring. Central made 6-of-9 at the charity stripe.
Boyceville
The Mounders got off to a quick start at home against Boyceville Thursday, February 2 and never looked back.
Elk Mound kept its collective feet on the offensive gas pedal throughout much of the first half as it took a 44 to 9 lead in to the halftime break.
The Bulldogs scoring struggles extended throughout the final half of play too as the stifling Mounders’ defense allowed just 11 more points en route to a 64 to 20 victory.
“We came out with a lot of energy,” noted Coach Kongshaug. “We created turnovers, and we were able to score in transition.”
11 Mounders put points behind their names in Thursday’s scorebook. Sophomore Ellie Schiszik netted 17 of her game-high 19 points in the first half and finished with a team-leading six rebounds and five steals. Blaskowski was the only other Mounder to hit double digits as she finished with 11 points, five rebounds, thee assists and a pair of steals. Rhude had nine points to go with four boards and Allie Roder had six points on two, first-half triples.
Elk Mound had a total of six treys and was 10-for-15 at the line.
Abby Schlough was Boyceville’s top point getter with six points off a pair of second-half threes while Hannah Dunn and Sarah Stoveren each collected five points.
Glenwood City
Much like the previous night’s game, Elk Mound used an explosive first half of offense to put its Friday, February 3 home contest against Glenwood City well out of the Toppers’ reach by halftime.
The Lady Mounders made nine of their 11 triples in the first half as they built a 58-17 lead at intermission and finished 43-for-74 shooting or just a tad better than 58 percent en route to an 80-32 plastering of the Toppers, who fell to 0-11 and 1-19 for the season.
“We got excellent contributions from every kid on the team,” said Kongshaug of the Glenwood City game.
“We shot the ball well, and we played with a lot of energy,” he added.
After 11 players got scores in the game with Boyceville, a baker’s dozen (13) netted points for the Mounders as the bench saw plenty of second-half action against Glenwood City. Ellie Schiszik was the top scorer for a second consecutive night as she finished with 18 points for the Mounders including four triples, three of which came in the first 18 minutes. She also had four steals. Brooke Emery was the only other Mounder in double digits with a dozen via four treys. Chloe Dummer added nine and Lydia Levra and Carly Mohr each finished with eight points. Tori Blaskowski had seven assists, five points and two steals while Lauren Garnett led in rebounds with five followed by Grace Roder who tallied four boards.
Izzy Davis led Glenwood City with a dozen points including 10 in the first half and Michaela Blaser finished with nine points for the Toppers thanks to a 7-for-8 performance at the free throw line.