By Bud Milroy
Sports correspondent
Friday was a special night at Catholic Central for a number of reasons. The Lady Topper seniors were honored before their last regular season game at home, Allie Hocking became the programs’ all-time leading scorer and they picked up a big win heading into post season play.
Erin Bittman, Amanda Koenen, Hocking and Chirissa Zirbel all started their final home basketball game and through a few tears and hugs from their coaches and teammates, they celebrated their careers by capping it with a big win over conference rival The Prairie School.
The 55-52 victory closed out the team’s regular season record at 10-12 overall and 8-8 in the Midwest Classic Conference – South.
Heading into the game needing just eight points to set the new record, Hocking opened the contest with a long three-pointer. A couple of minutes later she knocked down a short jumper to even the score. Then with 2:33 to play in the first quarter, the 5 foot-6 senior guard again dialed long distance and nailed a three to become Catholic Central’s girls basketball leading scorer.
The basket pushed her career total past the 1174 points that Jodi Robers Steyer recorded in her stellar career for the Lady Toppers.
Following a timeout to present Hocking with the game ball, played resumed and each team traded baskets to close out the quarter with the Lady Toppers clinging to a 13-12 lead.
“It was nice that Allie was able to get the record early on the game,” said Catholic Central coach Jeff Behrens. “She is a team-first player and she wanted to move past the record and get the focus back on the game.”
The balance of the game was marked by huge momentum swings with each team racing out to lead only to be reeled back in. The score was 24-23 in favor of the Prairie School at halftime. The Lady Toppers were on top after three periods, 39-38, thanks to Maggie Smith’s buzzer beater.
The first four minutes of the final period had points coming fast furious for both teams.
As play entered the final minute, Ali Wiemer hit her second three-pointer to put Catholic Central back on top. Prairie then ran the clock down to 18 seconds before they shot and Bittmann grabbed the rebound for Catholic Central. Following a Catholic Central timeout, Prairie fouled Hocking on the inbound pass. Hocking hit one of the two free throws to make the lead two.
Following a timeout, Prairie had two attempts at the basket that missed their mark before the rebound went out of bounds to Catholic Central with just six seconds to play. Once again, Hocking was fouled on the inbounds pass. She hit one of the two free throws to make the margin three with five seconds to play.
Prairie got the ball into its best player’s hand who drove to the basket but missed the jumper as time expired.
“This was a real nice win for us heading into the playoffs. Prairie had just beaten one of the top teams in the state (Heritage Christian, 37-33). This is a real confidence boost for us,” Behrens said. “I’m real proud of how the ladies hung in there when we fell behind but they never gave up and continued to battle back.”
“Allie had a great game again, she was as hot as a pistol going 5 of 6 from three point range but we really had a lot of contributors. Ali (Wiemer) had a big night, Erin (Bittmann) did a real nice job and Maggie (Smith) had a nice game in the middle for us. All three had big, timely shots for us tonight.”
Hocking led all scorers with 24 points. Bittmann had nine rebounds for Catholic Central to go with her nine points.
Ortiz led Prairie with 19 points.
The Lady Toppers will open tournament play on Friday following a first-round bye. They will play the winner of the Abundant Life vs. Trinity Academy game played Tuesday night in Madison.
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