Lady Vikings continue win streak with wins over Hayward and Mondovi

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

By Amber Hayden

It was another fruitful week for the Colfax ladies’ basketball team as they took wins over Hayward and Mondovi.

After a seasoning-opening loss to Division 1 Hudson by just three points, the Lady Vikes have reeled off seven consecutive victories with their most recent triumphs over the Hayward Hurricanes on Monday evening, December 16, and league-member Mondovi on Thursday, December 19.

The Colfax team opened quickly when it played in Hayward, running to an early 17-point advantage in the first half to lead 22-5 at the intermission. But Vikings offense went into a deep freeze in the second half as Hayward out scored the Vikings 15-13. Fortunately, Colfax had points to spare and held on for a 35-20 win in the low-scoring affair.

A full-court press from Mondovi left Colfax with little choices when attempting to get the ball in during Thursday evening’s game. Saville Wilson was the recipient to two of the long tosses and scored for the Vikings both times in the 65-33 home win over the Buffaloes on December 19.

The Vikings and Durand sit tied atop the Dunn-St. Croix Conference standings with  4-0 records. Overall, Colfax is 7-1. The Vikings are also ranked sixth in the first Division 4 state coaches’ poll on Wissports.net.

Colfax will enjoy the Christmas break before returning to the hardwood for a Thursday, January 2 home contest against Ladysmith. Then on Monday, January 6, Colfax will travel to Clear Lake, who is ranked second in the state’s Division 5 poll, for another non-conference game. The Vikings first conference game of 2020 will be against Durand on January 9, and will determine who will take sole ownership of first place in the Dunn-St. Croix.

Hayward

The Colfax ladies traveled to Hayward last Monday evening, December 16, and with a little luck were able to walk away with the win 35-20 after building a 22-5 lead by halftime.

“We got off to a good start, we were up 22-5 but then we really struggled offensively the rest of the way,” said head coach Joe Doucette. “We could not pass or catch after the start and finished with 20 turnovers and a bunch of misses inside and out.”

Kameri Meredith led the Lady Vikings in points with 10 stemming from three doubles, a trey, and was one-of-one from the line. Meredith also led on rebounds with seven, and had four steals and an assist.

Senior Rachel Scharlau attempted to bounce back after the Viking’s game against Glenwood City where she received a technical foul and was able to do so with eight total points as she was four-of-seven from under the basket and only one foul. Scharlau also had six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

“Hayward is physical and strong, but nobody could do much offensively,” Doucette stated. “We were solid defensively and that won us the game.”

Taylor Irwin and Josie Steinke had nine points between the pair. Irwin had two field goals, three rebounds, and three steals, and Steinke had a double and triple as well as one steal and two rebounds.

Also scoring for Colfax was Saville Wilson and Addisyn Olson with three a piece, and Madison Barstad who went two-of-two from the line.

“Fundamentally they made us look weak with the ball, and our passing was off,” Doucette explained. “We wanted to go inside more but lacked the ability to get the ball to our inside kids. Again we were fortunate to get off to a good start, otherwise we might have been in trouble.”

Colfax (35)
FG-FT-F-TP: T. Irwin 2-0-2-4, K. Meredith 4-1-2-10, J. Steinke 2-0-2-5, M. Barstad 0-2-4-2, S. Wilson 1-0-1-3, A. Olson 1-0-0-3, R. Scharlau 4-0-1-8. Totals 14-3-17-35.

Hayward (20)
FG-FT-F-TP: A. Schmitt 1-1-2-3, A. Johnson 1-1-1-4, H. Miller 1-3-0-5, E. Morgan 2-2-3-6, K. Cadotte 0-2-3-2. Total 5-9-13-20.

Colfax…………………………………22 13 – 35
Hayward.……………………………..5 15 – 20

3-point goals: Colfax: K. Meredith, J. Steinke, S. Wilson, A. Olson; Hayward: A. Johnson.

Mondovi

Things did not start well for the Vikings in the opening minutes of Thursday evening’s game against the Mondovi Buffaloes, but Colfax was once again able to bring in their bench players with 14:45 left in the opening half which saw Saville Wilson put up a huge three that was nothing but net to bring it 3-4 in favor of Mondovi.

Mondovi had jumped out to a 4-0 lead after shots from Abbey Fedie and Kortlyn Berg both hit the quick lay-up.

But after the three from Saville Wilson and a second triple from Taylor Irwin, the Vikings did not give up the lead again and went on to win quite handily, 65-33.

“The challenge for us is to continue to improve and work hard even when things are going well. When things are going well people have a tendency to sit back and coast and we can not do that,” said coach Doucette.

A full-court press from Mondovi left Colfax trying to find new ways to get the ball inbounds and several tosses the full length of the court were made, including one from Madison Barstad to Taylor Irwin who hit the lay up as Katherine Thompson of Mondovi watched.

Colfax and Mondovi continued their back-and-forth play as Abby Johnson of Mondovi hit three points to bring it to 7-8. Addisyn Olson hit the bucket for two off of a rebound from a failed three-point attempt by Addy Olson.

The Buffaloes called a time out with 8:41 to go in the first half, but the will to bounce back to reclaim the lead over the Vikings slipped through the fingers of each Mondovi player.

In the final eight minutes of the first half, Colfax outscored Mondovi 17-6 as they headed to the locker room with the score in favor of the Vikings, 33-18.

The Vikings were led by Taylor Irwin and Kameri Meredith each with 11 points. Irwin had three triples and a double, and Meredith fought her way to the basket from underneath with four doubles and a triple.

Colfax opened the second half with two quick baskets from Jayna Bowe and Kameri Meredith, leaving the Buffaloes no choice but to call a time out and try to regroup.

Senior Rachel Scharlau was sent to the line twice in the second half and led Colfax as she went four-of-six from the line, and a total of ten points.

Colfax had 15 players rotating into the game to earn varsity minutes with 11 of the players scoring in the 65-33 win.

“After the break we play Ladysmith who is 8-1 and a very important game. After that we have a unbeaten Clear Lake team and a very good Durand team,” Doucette said. “We will have our hands full.”

Colfax (65)
FG-FT-F-TP: T. Irwin 4-0-1-11, M. Schleusner 0-1-2-1, J. Bowe 1-0-2-2, K. Meredith 5-0-3-11, M. Harmon 3-0-1-7, J. Steinke 1-0-1-3, M. Barstad 3-0-0-6, A. Olson 1-2-2-5, S. Wilson 2-0-3-5, A. Olson 2-0-0-4, R. Scharlau 3-4-1-10. Totals 25-7-17-65.

Mondovi (33)
FG-FT-F-TP: M. Clark 0-2-4-2, J. Hulke 2-0-2-5, E. Poeschel 1-2-0-5, K. Thompson 3-0-0-7, A. Johnson 3-0-1-7, K. Berg 1-0-1-2, A. Fedie 2-1-3-5. Total 12-5-12-33.

Colfax………………………………33 32 – 65
Mondovi.…………………………..18 15 – 33

3-point goals: Colfax: T. Irwin (3), K. Meredith, M. Harmon, J. Steinke, A. Olson, S. Wilson; Mondovi: J. Hulke, E. Poeschel, K. Thompson, A. Johnson.