Elk Mound girls sweep Durand-Arkansaw to remain unbeaten in D-SC league action
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DURAND — The Elk Mound girls’ basketball squad started its second round of Dunn-St. Croix Conference contests in Durand January 23 with an all important rematch against Durand-Arkansaw.
The league-leading Lady Mounders defeated the Panthers by 14 points in their first go-round played in Elk Mound on December 5 and came into last Thursday’s conference showdown with a one-game lead over the hosts.
Elk Mound’s offense was firing on all cylinders while its defensive pressure stymied Durand-Arkansaw as it built a sizable 36-14 lead by halftime. A Panther rally in the second half fell short, however, and allowed the Mounders to leave with a 49-41 win and an unblemished 8-0 mark in conference play.
Elk Mound got off to a quick start in Durand as it hit five of its six three pointers en route to establishing a 22-point advantage by the intermission.
Senior Allie Roder garnered 11 of her game-high 13 points in the first half off four deuces and a triple. Fellow senior Ellie Schiszik and junior Belle Kongshaug each sank a pair of opening half threes.
During the same span, the Mounders’ defense was making it difficult for the Panthers to score and went to the locker room with 36-14 lead.
After making just five baskets, which included a trio of threes during the opening 18 minutes of play, Durand-Arkansaw battled back in the second half with four more threes as it outscored Elk Mound 27-13.
The Mounders struggled at the charity stripe in the second half they made just two of their nine attempts including missing the front end of five bonus situations and finished 5-for-14.
Fortunately, Elk Mound had a large enough lead and held on for the 49-41 win.
“It was a very good win for us,” stated Elk Mound head coach Jordan Kongshaug.
“We came out and played some of our best basketball of the year,” he added of his charge play in the first half. “We guarded extremely well and we were able to score in transition. It was a big conference win.”
Besides her high of 13 points, Roder finished with seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks, Schiszik added 10 points along with six assists, three rebounds and a pair of blocks, Hailey Meyer also contributed 10 points and five rebounds, Kongshaug tallied nine points and Allie Robel had a team-leading 11 of the team’s 29 rebounds and added six points.
Durand-Arkansaw had a pair of double-digit scorers. Victoria Kurth netted 13 points to lead the Panthers and Emma Hoyt added ten.
Durand-Arkansaw finished 8-for-12 at the free throw line and had seven triples while Elk Mound finished with six.
The victory gives Elk Mound a two-game lead over Durand-Arkansaw and Colfax, whom the Mounders play this Friday on the Vikings’ home hardwood. Overall, Elk Mound improved to 14-1.
The Mounders were also suppose to play Eau Claire Regis last week, but last Monday’s game slated for Elk Mound was postponed due to sub-zero temperatures and has yet to be reschedule.
Besides the Colfax contest, Elk Mound also hosted Boyceville last evening.