Panther girls on three game win streak

Trying to rebuild a program is not an easy task but it can be rewarding if good things start to happen.

For first year Iowa-Grant girls basketball coach Jessica Schultz the turn around is happening and she and the Panthers hope it continues.

The Panthers picked up a signature win over the SWAL’s third place team Darlington this past week. They are currently on a three game win streak taking down the Redbirds and Boscobel in SWAL play and Fall River in non-conference.

It has been quite a run.

The Panthers are 9-12 overall and 5-6 for fourth place in the SWAL.

The win over Darlington was a shocker for the Redbirds who had gone toe to toe with SWAL first place dweller Cuba City. The Panthers outlasted the Redbirds 54-53 and the celebration began.

Alaina Schultz  who is playing her best basketball right now,  led the Panthers with 16 points. The 12 points from scoring leader Adriana Jelle and from inside threat Adrianne Biddick also were key factors in the win.

Maddie Gratz and Jaidyn Evenstad led Darlington with 17 and 10 points respectively.

“This was a huge win for the girls,” Schultz said. “Our defensive effort was incredible. The girls deserve this win and could not be more proud. The senior leadership on this team is admirable.”

Schultz said Alaina Schultz was unstoppable and the ’Birds had no answer for her.

“Adrianne Biddick stepped up and hit two monster free throws for us down the stretch, Schultz said. The Panthers made 12 of 17 free throws the second half.

SCORE BY HALVES

Darlington      28    25   53

Iowa-Grant    27    27   54

BOX SCORE

DARLINGTON 53: (fg-ft-tp) Hendrickson 0-0-0, Johnson 2-0-4, Gratz 6-4-17, Zuberbuhler 1-0-2, McCarthy 2-5-9.Goebel 1-0-2, Evenstad 3-3-10, Niedziejko 0-0-0, Norgard 3-3-9. Totals 18-15/26-53. Fouls-15

IOWA-GRANT 54: Jelle 4-3-12, Fisher 1-2-5, Kuhls 0-0-0, Kite 0-0-0, Hoeper 1-0-3, Kohlenberg 2-0-6, Biddick 5-2-12, Lehman 0-0-0, Schultz 6-4-16 Totals 19-11/18-54. Fouls-20

3 point goals:

D-Gratz 1, Evenstad 1

I-G-Kohlenberg 2, Jelle 1. Fisher 1, Hoeper 1

Last Tuesday the Panthers took to the highway to face Fall River, a team that is 6-5 in the Trailways West and 11-10 overall.

The Panthers made the trip worthwhile with a 62-48 win.

Adriana Jelle had  a lights out performance for the Panthers with 22 points, 18 in the second half.  The Panthers trailed 29-24 at halftime but Jelle changed that in a big way.

I-G’s inside threat, Adrienne Biddick, ruled the middle with 12 points.

Olivia Fietz paced Fall River with 13 points and Emma Sampson contributed 12.

Schultz switched things up a little in the contest.

“Fall River is a good team,” Schultz said. “We started a bigger line up to match up better with their size and I thought we handled the switch up really well.” 

“Adrienne and Alaina worked so hard all night and completely dominated the inside game,” Schultz said.  “Amiah Fisher and AJ controlled the tempo and made big plays when we needed them. They energized the whole crowd.” 

Schultz considers the trip a success.

“I am really proud of the girls,” she said.  “During a timeout after we had just gone on a run, one of my girls said “this is fun!”. That is precisely what we have been working toward - to have fun playing basketball again. I couldn’t be happier.”

SCORE BY HALVES

Iowa-Grant      24    38   62

Fall River         29    19   48

BOX SCORE

IOWA-GRANT 62: (fg-ft-tp) Jelle 7-6-22, Fisher 2-4-9, Kuhls 1-0-2, Kite 0-0-0, Hoeper 0-0-0, Kohlenberg 3-2-9, Biddick 6-0-12, Schultz 4-0-8. Totals 23-23/20-62. Fouls-18

FALL RIVER 48: Schlachter 0-0-0, Schultz 2-0-4, N. Fietz 3-1-7, Sampson 5-2-12, Dietzenbach 2-0-4, O. Fietz 4-4-13. Totals 16-9/18-48. Fouls-16. Fouled out-Sampson, Schlachter

3 point goals:

I-G-Jelle 2, Fisher 1, Kohlenberg 1

FR-O. Fietz 1

Sometimes it makes sense to let a highly talented scorer work their magic and stop everyone else.

The Panther girls saw Boscobel’s Erin Knowles put in 40 points Friday but Iowa-Grant won the SWAL match-up 66-53.

Knowles filled the scorebook with 19 points the first half and 21 the second for a great scoring night. But the Panthers did what they do best right now and that is play quality basketball and score.

The Panthers led 36-24 at the intermission and closed it out with a strong second half.

Adriana Jelle led the way with 24 points, 13 in the first half and 11 after intermission. BreAnn Kohlenberg got hot with 11 and Adrienne Biddick added 10 for three Panthers in double figures.

Kohlenberg also helped the Panthers down the stretch with nine the second half.

The win gave the Panthers a trifecta in their last three outings which is what their coach is looking for.

“The girls are just clicking right now,” Schultz said. “We are playing beautiful basketball. Teams are having to focus so much on our inside game that it is opening up the outside shot.”

She was pleased with the contributions from her squad.

“AJ was on fire and shot the ball with confidence,” Schultz said. “It was nice to see other girls step up. Quinn Hoeper and BreAnn played really well.”

Schultz also recognized the Panthers saw a quality player in the line-up for the Bulldogs.

“Knowles is a talented player and I have a lot of respect for her game,” Schultz said.

SCORE BY HALVES

Boscobel       24   29    53

Iowa-Grant  36   30    66

BOX SCORE

BOSCOBEL 53: (fg-ft-tp) Dilley 1-0-2, Smith 0-0-0, Seay 0-0-0, Knowles 14-11-40, Childs 0-0-0, Seeley 1-0-2, Baumeister 1-0-3, Wallin 1-0-3, Bailie 0-0-0, Fritz 0-0-0, Wayne 1-0-3. Totals 19-11/20-53. Fouls-15

IOWA-GRANT 66: Jelle 7-6-24, Fisher 3-0-7, Kuhls 0-0-0, Kite 0-0-0, Hoeper 2-2-7, Kohlenberg 4-1-10, Schultz 2-3-7. Totals 23-12/17-66. Fouls-18

3 point goals:

B-Knowles 1, Baumeister 1, Wallin 1, Wayne 1 

I-G-Jelle 4, Fisher 1, Kite 1, Kohlenberg 2