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Ah...the love of the three pointer.
The first three pointer in the WIAA Division 4 state tournament game between Bangor and Mineral Point rained in from the Cardinals offensive set when Megan Medema drilled one 11 seconds into the semifinal contest.
Before the end of the first half and more specifically in the last nine minutes the Pointers drained seven among their last eight baskets of the 18 minute period to take a 30-13 halftime lead. Blair Watters, on her way to 20 points, drilled two as did Mallory Lindsey. Ella Chambers, Macy Aschliman and Emily Cody all added one. That makes 21 points.
During the barrage Kennedy Wenger scored from underneath as the Pointers outscored the Cardinals 23-8 in the late run.
The second half was not much different as the Pointers kept up the long range sniping with six more threes. Those came courtesy of two from Chambers, one each from Watters and Lindsey with Jade Nodolf entering the game for the last three minutes to put in two.
When it was over the Pointers came up with a comfortable 66-30 win.
It was Watters who was way too much for the Cardinals to deal with. The 6-0 junior totaled 20 points with three triples and seven of 12 free throws while pulling down 12 rebounds, dishing out three assists and getting a pair of steals.
Lindsey, who ran the show for the Pointers along with Chambers added 11 with a trio of threes.
Chambers, who also had three treys, scored nine.
Taylor Jacobson and Aliyah Langrehr both totaled six points to lead Bangor.
The Pointers swarmed all over the Cardinals with their defensive pressure which ended up with them scoring 23 points off the 18 turnovers they forced. They also had a 44-35 rebound advantage that included 12 second chance points.
The opening three by Medema lasted for 1:31 before the Pointers took a 4-3 lead which they held the rest of the 34:18 of the game.
Bangor has been a fixture at the state tournament, making the field four of the last five years in Division 5. This was the first time they entered the field in Division 4.
"With the make-up of teams this season we got thrown into D4 said Bangor coach Merlin Jones. "We found it to be a different speed and we drew a good program in Mineral Point. We battled hard to get here and I feel we were prepared and ready to play. Give Mineral Point credit. They hit their shots."
"When you hit the shots it gets much easier," said Pointer coach Mike Keyes. "We played very well defensively and that keyed our offense as defense is where our offense starts. I am proud of the girls and how they played."
"What makes us successful is that we are not about one kid," Keyes continued. "We believe in strength in numbers and every one of our players can score. The girls do not care which one scores and that makes us very unpredictable and tough to guard."
"We have to practice hard to play the style of basketball we play," added Keyes.
About Watters' performance Keyes said she has been playing well and is growing into her game.
"Coach tells us to go out there and play our hardest," Watters said. "It was a tough year not knowing if we would be shut down at any time or not but we are here and it is so exciting."
The Pointers started out the game as one of the last four teams in the state playing basketball in Division 4.
After it was over they were among the last two.
SCORE BY HALVES
Mineral Point 30 36 66
Bangor 13 17 30
BOX SCORE
MINERAL POINT 66: (fg-ft-tp) Watters 5-7-20, Wenger 1-1-3, Lindsey 4-0-11, Aschliman 3-1-8, Chambers 3-0-9, Cody 1-0-3, Lawinger 0-0-0, Cox 2-0-4, Murphy 1-0-2, Ross 0-0-0, Nodolf 2-0-6, Sudmeier 0-0-0, Grunow 0-0-0 Totals 22-9/16-66 Fouls-16
BANGOR 30: Jones 0-4-4, Janisch 0-1-1, Jacobson 3-0-6, Tucker 0-0-0, Medema 2-0-5, Olson 0-1-1, A. Langrehr 2-2-6, England 1-0-2, Erickson 0-0-0, Nicolai 0-2-2, Freit 0-0-0, B. Langrehr 0-1-1, Schroeder 1-0-2, Schaub 0-0-0, Massman 0-0-0 Totals 9-11/17-30 Fouls-15
3 point goals:
MP-(13) Watters 3, Lindsey 3, Chambers 3, Nodolf 2, Aschliman 1, Cody 1
B-(1) Medema 1