By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
After a disappointing loss to Badger last week, the Waterford Union High School girls basketball team might have felt the need to make a statement Tuesday night.
The Wolverines did just that, as senior Alyssa Helwig made her return from a hand injury to score 13 points and Waterford destroyed Westosha Central, 56-21, at Central.
“Great team effort,” said Wolverine coach Dena Brechtl “Intensity was awesome, (and) senior leadership was the difference.”
Paced by the efforts of seniors Helwig, Megan Jensen and Jaycie Chart, Waterford held the Falcons to just two first-quarter baskets and jumped out to an 18-4 lead.
Waterford pushed the lead to 35-11 at the half and cruised home from there. Westosha managed just three points in the third quarter and 10 total in the second half.
In addition to leading both teams with 13 points, Helwig added five assists and two steals. Jensen, meanwhile, put up seven points and showed “great control of the floor tonight,” said Brechtl.
Chart, meanwhile, added seven points and five steals, and the Wolverines had six points each from Madison Blair and Kelly Strasser, and five from Tiffany Stiewe.
Strasser added a team-best six rebounds.
Waterford was coming off a 55-43 loss at Badger Jan. 3. Brechtl said the team wasn’t aggressive enough – shown in the fact the Wolverines shot no free throws – and struggled against the Badger zone.
“We have been struggling against zones all year long and need to make some adjustments to attack them better,” Brechtl said.
Stiewe led the Wolverines with 12 points, while Strasser added eight and Blair seven. Chart and Jensen had six each.
Boys
The Waterford boys picked up an important win in Southern Lakes Conference play Jan. 4, pulling away in the fourth quarter to defeat Elkhorn 52-44.
Waterford led 28-18 at the half, but saw the Elks pull within four by the end of the third quarter.
However, Waterford went to the free-throw line 17 times in the final quarter, and hit nine of those attempts – enough to seal the victory.
Chris Benavides posted another strong effort for the Wolverines, scoring 20 points and hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the contest. Brandon Schindler added 13.
In a non-conference game Tuesday night, Waterford lost to Whitnall, 58-38.
No one scored in double figures for the Wolverines, with Schindler leading the team with eight and Benavides adding seven.
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