By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Union Grove High girls basketball coach Rob Domagalski to find specific areas of his team that need improvement.
Perhaps the only thing more difficult is for the competition to contest with the streaking Broncos.
In two dominating victories last week Union Grove (13-2, 8-0) outscored Racine Park and Westosha Central by a combined margin of 124-71 on its way to extending its winning streak to seven.
The Broncos have now won their first eight straight conference games for the first time since 2010-2011 when they went 12-0 and won the Southern Lakes Conference championship.
So where do the Broncos need to improve? Domagalski points to a lack of focus in the first quarter against Westosha last Friday, Jan 23.
The Falcons jumped out to a 9-1 lead and held an 11-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Although the Broncos responded in style with a 23-3 second quarter surge en route to the commanding 60-30 victory, Domagalski was still concerned by the slow start.
“We started the game down 9-1 and we have to keep our focus in order for us to compete,” Domagalski said. “Sure, we came back and did what we needed to do to do win, but we can’t let that slow start happen because sooner or later it will get us beat.”
The good news for Domagalski is that his team dominated the Falcons the rest of the way, outscoring Westosha 51-19 in the final three quarters for the commanding 30-point win.
Jordan Weidner paced the Broncos with 17 points, while Janelle Shiffler added 12, and Sara Hartl chipped in 11.
“Jordan has played outstanding all year for us,” Domagalski said, “What a great time to do it in her senior season with our team doing so well. I’m proud of how she and our team have started.”
Union Grove also made its coach proud last Tuesday, Jan. 20, when it pummeled visiting Racine Park, 64-41.
Hartl led the Broncos with 16 points, while Frankie Pettit tallied a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Weidner tacked on 11 points, 8 rebounds, and six assists. Shiffler was the fourth Bronco to crack double-digit scoring with 11 points.
“Frankie (Pettit) averages 9 points and 9 rebounds a game, and if she can extend her game just a little further, she could become one of the few players that I’ve had that have average a double-double for the season,” Domagalski said. “She has been on varsity since her freshman season and is one of the most versatile players that I’ve had.”
Pettit and the Broncos jumped out to a 13-7 first quarter lead, and increased the advantage to 31-17 at halftime.
Matters only worsened from there as Union Grove greeted the visitors in the second half with a brisk 16-5 run to blow the game open 47-22.
“We keep the status quo during the game and it can wear teams down,” Domagalski said. “We stay on target and sometimes you get some odd quarters like our 23-3 quarter against Westosha because we don’t change up and just capitalize on the other team’s mistakes.”
Park never threatened from there, giving Domagalski another opportunity to give his bench players some valuable playing time in the fourth quarter.
“We are a tough team to defend because we don’t have one main scorer,” Domagalski said. “Any girl on any given night can lead us in scoring, which is a great situation to have.”
The Broncos look to keep things rolling this week when they travel to Burlington Friday and then host Elkhorn Tuesday.
“Every team is getting better this time of year, and Burlington is not making the same mistakes as it was earlier in the season,” Domagalski said. “We’ll definitely have to play well to win.”
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