By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
Union Grove junior forward Jenna Rainey had her typical game against Wilmot Friday night.
She blocked out, played defense, and made five free throws.
While a game like this usually goes unnoticed, the Broncos’ best role player was credited by both head coaches as being the difference in the Union Grove’s 43-34 victory over the Panthers.
Rainey’s gutsy effort helped Union Grove (17-4, 11-2) draw even with Wilmot (17-4, 11-2) in the Southern Lakes Conference race and gave the Broncos an undefeated record on the road this season.
“Jenna has been providing this type of effort all year, but this was by far one of her best defensive games of the year,” Domagalski said. “You need players like this that aren’t in the limelight to step up and she helped us win this game.”
Rainey’s heroics came into play even more when standout forward Janelle Shiffler left the game in foul trouble with the game tied at 25 with 10 minutes left.
With aspirations of a Southern Lakes Conference championship in doubt, Rainey helped anchor the Broncos’ 1-3-1 zone that kept them in contention while Shiffler was on the bench.
“It wasn’t Pettit, Bull, or Kus, it was number 44 (Rainey) who was getting to every loose ball and getting in the right spots,” Wilmot coach Keiya Square said. “And in big games like this, you need players like that to step up, and she did.”
The Panthers, nevertheless, were finally able to grab the upper hand, 32-28, behind a McKenna Stanek three-pointer and two Delaney Sjong free throws.
Sjong led the way for Wilmot with a game-high 12 points.
But it wasn’t enough for the Panthers, who scored just five points in the final five minutes.
Bronco senior forward Frankie Pettit took full advantage of the Panther draught, draining a key three-pointer that ignited the crucial 15-2 run.
Brooklyn Bull then followed Pettit’s lead with two free throws, and Alyssa Kus chipped in consecutive baskets to give the Broncos the lead for good, 37-32.
Bull and Kus each had 10 for the Broncos, while Shiffler led the way with 11.
“We had a four-point lead and let them chip away, and then they took over the last three minutes,” Wilmot coach Keiya Square said. “It was a game of runs, but it just happened that this game they went on their run last.”
The Panthers made the first big run of the game with a 10-0 spurt that pushed them ahead 16-6 midway through the first half.
Sam Kirk drained a pair of three pointers to help ignite the run.
With the game seemingly slipping away from Union Grove, the Broncos closed out the first half with a 10-0 run of its own to make it 16-16 at halftime.
“We had a slow start like we usually do but we picked it up and starting working as a team more,” Rainey said. “We were feeling better as a team by halftime when we were able to tie the game.”
The game went back-and-forth for most of the second half, before the Broncos grabbed the upper hand late to seal the victory.
“We just have to bounce back and just have to win on Tuesday,” Square. “If we have to share the conference title, so be it.”
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