No one can accuse Highland’s girls basketball team of not understanding hard work.
They worked hard Thursday at Wauzeka-Steuben, even getting the lead the second half, only to not being able to hold it. Wauzeka- Steuben outlasted the Cardinals 39- 35 and earned a chance at Argyle/Pecatonica in the WIAA Division 5 Regional finals.
The start ended up to being the biggest obstacle for the Cardinals as W/S got out to a 23-8 lead at the half. The Cardinals were only able to get four points from Addison Bedward, her ony four of the game, along with two from Celia Oleson and from Adilyn Esser. Oleson went on to put in 11 to lead Highland and Esser finished with eight.
W/S put the clamps on usual top scorer Sophia Tarrell and held her to just a basket.
The Cardinals outscored the hosts 27-16 the second half but it ended up to not be enough. But Highland coach Josh Tarrell was proud of the effort.
“We switched some things the second half, started to hit some shots, and even got the lead.” Tarrell said. “We just could not hold it.”
Tarrell added a couple late turnovers went against the Cardinals.
“We got a good performance off the bench by Emily Laufenberg as she hit a couple big three pointers the second half,” Tarrell said.”They packed it in on Sophia but Celia got some shots to lead us.”
“I am proud of the girls,” Tarrell said. “We were picked for fourth and ended up second and hung around first place. The girls had a very good year.”
SCORE BY HALVES
Highland 8 27 35 W/S 23 16 39
BOX SCORE
HIGHLAND 35: (fg-ft-tp) Laufenberg 2-0-6, Bollant 2-0-4, S. Tarrell 1-0-2, Esser 2-4-8, Bedward 1-2-4, Oleson 4-2-11 Totals 12- 8/11-35. Fouls=16. Fouled out- Oleson
W/S 39: M Mitchell 2-0-6, H. Mitchell 1-0-2, C Wright 1-2-4, A Wright 2-3-7, V Mitchell 1-0-2, N. Wright2-0-5, Bunders 4-5-13. Totals 13-10/15-39 Fouls-10
3 point goals:
H-Laufenberg 2, Oleson 1 W/S-M Mitchell 2, N Wright 1