By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
Coming off a frustrating loss to Wilmot earlier in the week, the Waterford Union High School girls basketball team didn’t get the start it wanted Saturday night against Burlington.
With senior guard Megan Jensen in foul trouble, a handful of other players with two fouls and Burlington able to score, the Wolverines led just 31-23 at the half.
“We were pretty upset with them in the first half,” said Waterford coach Dena Brechtl. “We came quickly to realize that was our third game this week.”
It was also the sixth day in a row of hard practices and “going hard,” as Brechtl said.
“We took that into consideration and gave a speech that more motivated,” Brechtl said.
Whatever was said worked, as Waterford allowed the Demons just 11 second-half points – and just three field goals – in cruising home to a 56-34 victory.
Waterford started the third quarter on an 11-0 run before BHS finally got a pair of free throws from Emily Golon to break the stretch.
Brechtl said her team did a better job of keeping Burlington from getting good looks in the second half.
“They like when you put a challenge in front of them,” Brechtl said of her team. “Eleven second-half points was pretty impressive.”
While Jensen never really was a presence offensively – she finished with just two points – she distributed the ball very well to the rest of the team. Fellow senior Alyssa Helwig finished with game-high 14 points, while Kelly Strasser posted 13.
“I couldn’t have been more impressed with how she played,” Brechtl said of Strasser, who also pointed out that Helwig has made it a habit of shooting well in the BHS gymnasium.
But the Wolverines also got 13 points out of Madison Blair, who had another solid effort.
“Madison Blair has really been picking it up lately,” Brechtl said, pointing to the sophomore’s long first step and ability to put the ball on the floor. “She can finish.”
On Dec. 6, the Wolverines took on fellow SLC-undefeated Wilmot, and came out on the short end of a 66-56 decision.
The Panthers kept Waterford in check most of the game, leading 28-17 at the half and 49-26 after three quarter, but the Wolverines came alive for 30 points in the final quarter.
“We definitely can compete with them,” said Brechtl. “We looked real good at the end of the game. We just waited too long to turn it on.”
Waterford hit more baskets in the fourth quarter (11) than it had in the previous three (10). Jensen led the Wolverines with 18 points (four 3-pointers), while Blair added 15 points.
Blair and Jensen each had three assists and three steals in the contest.
On Tuesday, the Wolverines dropped a 47-40 non-conference contest at Whitnall. Blair had 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Strasser added 10 points and four rebounds.
Ashley Markowiak led Whitnall and all scorers with 22 points.
-
-
-
-
-