By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
After starting the season 1-10, the Burlington High School girls basketball team got their third win in the past six games with a 52-42 win at home over Delavan-Darien Monday.
The victory improves the Demons overall record to 4-13 and their Southern Lakes Conference mark to 2-9.
A huge second quarter allowed the Demon girls to overcome a 12-8 first-quarter deficit. In that second quarter, Burlington outscored the Comets 23-4, to take a 31-16 halftime lead.
“We played a real solid second quarter,” head coach Gordon Nikolic said. “They were sharing the ball.”
Four different Demons knocked down threes in that quarter and a total of six different players scored for Burlington. Delavan-Darien cut the lead to 42-30 after three quarters and then was forced to foul in the fourth quarter.
Burlington held the ball a bit in the fourth quarter, forcing the Comets to foul. As a result, the Demon girls shot 14 free throws in the fourth quarter, but made just six. It was enough, though, to close out the win. Overall, the Demon girls made just 10 of 24 foul shots in the game.
“We have to do a better job of shooting free throws,” Nikolic noted.
The Comets were not much better, sinking just 12 of 26.
The Demons had just one player in double figures, and that was Jenn Stevens with 10. Anna Vogt added nine and Emily Golon eight.
A total of nine girls scored for Burlington.
Vs. Wilmot
Burlington was no match for the Wilmot Panthers, who handed the Demons a 71-43 defeat Friday at Wilmot.
“They’re way too quick for us,” Nikolic said. “We hung with them for a half.”
Wilmot, which is 16-2 overall and was ranked No. 8 in Division 2 until a loss to Waterford, controlled this game from the outset. The Panthers led 18-6 after one quarter and 32-22 at the half.
The second half was all Wilmot, as they outscored the Demons 39-21.
“They didn’t miss much in the second half,” Nikolic noted.
Burlington committed 35 turnovers in this game, considerably higher than their season average of 22 per game.
Carley Lahodik led Burlington with nine points, followed by Stevens and Lacey Scherrer with eight each.
“Those three have been playing well for us the last four games,” Nikolic said.
Wilmot had four players with nine or more points.
Burlington will be at Delavan-Darien for another game with the Comets on today at 7 p.m.
The girls will host Union Grove in an SLC matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m.
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