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Confidence is a huge factor in the success of a basketball team, and the Mineral Point girls are having a growing amount of it as the season progresses.
The Pointers claimed their 5th straight victory Saturday night when Iowa-Grant visited for a make-up game. Mineral Point cruised to the win 55-32.
The Pointers now sit at 5-1 in the league, just a game behind league leading Cuba City.
The Panthers had no real answer for Jessica Schultz's huge inside presence as the sophomore tallied six field goals in the paint, in addition to a three point shot.
But she didn't do it alone. Freshman Sydney Staver showed her athletic prowess as she notched 11 points and sophomore Clara Chambers had another solid game with 14.
Schultz, Chambers, Natalie Chubb, and Paula Pittz helped the Pointers get off on the right foot with a 9-0 stretch in the first quarter that helped the home team hold an 18-8 lead after one.
Haley Yelinek hit a triple to start the second quarter for Iowa-Grant, but the Pointers responded with a 12-2 run, with points from Destinee Kruser, Chambers, Tessa Wainwright, and Schultz, to stay firmly in command at 32-18 at the break.
Mineral Point all but sealed the deal to start the third quarter and squashed any hope of a Panther comeback with a 15-0 run that featured three pointers by Schultz and Chambers. Mineral Point did a good job of playing nearly foul free, only picking up their first second half foul late in the third quarter as they led 52-25 entering the fourth.
Points were at a premium for both squads in the final frame as the pace of the game slowed. Iowa-Grant outscored their hosts 7-3 as Emma Liddicoat had the highlight with a three pointer.
Taylor Jackson was the top Panther with 11 points as Liddicoat added 10.
"Our fouls tonight came at much better times," said Pointer coach Mitch Wainwright. "We stayed aggressive. I always worry about playing games when we don't have school, but we were able to keep the intensity up tonight."
"Jessica had a great game and I'm really happy with how she played. She's just as good of a shot as anyone else from the three point line, and she can score from there, so teams will have to come guard her."
"Sydney keeps getting more and more comfortable. She makes some very athletic plays."
"Destinee had some big rebounds which led to points, and did a good job of getting us second shot opportunities."
"It was nice to get quality playing time for everyone tonight. I feel that is important as the season progresses," concluded the coach.
The Pointers were scheduled to play at Cuba City Tuesday, but that will have to be made up due to the extreme cold. A date was not announced yet at press time.
This week the Pointers will play in the annual SWAL Jamboree at UW-Platteville on Friday night at 6 pm against Boscobel. They will then travel to Southwestern for a make up game Monday.
The Panthers were set to hose Riverdale Tuesday, but that game will now be played February 20. Iowa-Grant faces Fennimore in the SWAL Jamboree at UW-Platteville at 10 am on Saturday morning. They then host Dodgeville Monday for a non-conference test.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
IG: 8-10-7-7--32
MP: 18-14-20-3--55
BOX SCORE
IOWA-GRANT (fg-ft-tp) 32: Richards 2-0-4, Moneypenny 1-0-2, Grimm 1-0-2, Liddicoat 4-0-10, Yelinek 1-0-3, Jackson 4-2/2-11. Totals: 13-2/2-32. Fouls: 11. Three pointers: Liddicoat 2, Jackson 1, Yelinek 1.
MINERAL POINT 55: Staver 6-2/2-11, Pittz 1-1/2-3, Johnson 0-1/2-1, Chambers 6-0-14, Chubb 2-0-4, Wainwright 1-1/2-3, Qualley 0-1/2-1, Kruser 1-1/4-3, Schultz 7-0-15. Totals: 22-7/14-55. Fouls: 12. Three pointers: Chambers 2, Schultz 1, Staver 1.