---

by Joelle Doye
A double edged sword greeted the Mineral Point girls basketball team Thursday at Southwestern.
The first came from 6'0" Wildcat center, Katelyn Hoppman, who tallied a game-high 28 points in the paint.
But the second came from the Pointers themselves, missing many shots early, which would come back to bite them in a hard-fought 56-53 overtime loss.
"We must have missed at least a dozen shots from the blocks or closer in the first half," said Pointer coach Mitch Wainwright. He acknowledged there was likely an intimidation with Hoppman under the basket ready to block, but would've liked to see his team be able to convert a few more attempts.
Emily Mitchell and Hannah Goninen shared first quarter scoring duties, each tallying six points, but the Pointers found themselves down 14-12 at the end of one with Hoppman scoring eight for the Wildcats.
Both teams struggled a bit offensively in the second quarter with just two field goals each and Mineral Point was still down two at the half, 19-17.
Six different Pointers scored in the third, including two threes from Hannah Lawinger and five points from Mitchell, but Southwestern kept pace again with eight points from Hoppman. Mineral Point picked up two points in the frame, outscoring the Wildcats 18-16 to tie things at 35 all entering the fourth.
The Pointers missed three free throws in the fourth, and Hoppman again scored eight, but Lawinger hit for two more from beyond the arc--the second tying the game and forcing an overtime period.
Free throws proved to be the difference maker in the extra session as the Wildcats connected on five of eight attempts while Mineral Point missed their only two tries.
Hoppman's 28 led all scorers. Teammate Abby Kunkel added 13.
Point had a balanced attack--Lawinger 17, Mitchell 16, and Goninen 12.
"They pressed us early," added Wainwright. However, he was pleased with how his team was eventually able to settle into its offense a bit better and start hitting some of those shots it missed early.
"Emily fouled out, which hurt us, but yet we were able to limit Hoppman to just one field goal in overtime. Southwestern got the first possession in overtime, but we were able to force a turnover. But Hoppman blocked us, and then it was a free throw contest from there," concluded the coach.
The game was a battle for 4th place in the conference, and with the loss the Pointers fall to 4-5 in the SWAL and 8-9 overall.
The Pointers host perennial powerhouse Cuba City Friday. The Cubans are currently a game behind Fennimore for first place.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
MP: 12-5-18-14-4--53
SW: 14-5-16-14-7--56
BOX SCORE
MINERAL POINT (fg-ft-tp) 53: Lawinger 6-1/2-17, C. Graber 0-0/2-0, Qualley 1-1/4-3, Mitchell 7-2/5-16, Goninen 6-0-12, Dolphin 1-0-2, Wainwright 0-2/2-2, Ottoway 0-1/2-1. Totals: 21-7/17-53. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Mitchell. Three pointers: Lawinger 4.
SOUTHWESTERN 56: Vaassen 0-3/4-3, Kuhl 2-2/4-6, Kunkel 4-5/6-13, Hoppman 12-4/4-28, Pearce 1-0/2-2, Droeszler 2-0/1-4. Totals: 21-14/21-56. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: Droeszler.