By David Paulsen
Sports Correspondent
A 73-62 loss to Elkhorn March 1 prevented the Waterford High School girls basketball team from gaining a share of the Southern Lakes Conference crown.
Waterford went into the game, which was the final contest of the regular season, needing just a win to clinch a share of the SLC crown. The Wolverine girls were tied with Lake Geneva and Union Grove with 10-3 SLC marks.
Lake Geneva won its final SLC game and earned the outright crown as both Waterford and Union Grove lost.
“We were a little banged up and knew it would be tough as we were undersized,” noted head coach Dena Brechtl.
The Wolverines were without starting guard Alyssa Helwig.
The two teams went back and forth early on, before Elkhorn put together a run at the end of the first quarter to take an 18-12 lead. The Elks built that to 34-26 at the half.
The closest Waterford got in the second half was five points before Elkhorn pulled away to a 50-39 lead after three quarters.
“They knocked down shots and we missed a handful. Nothing was falling,” Brechtl said, noting the Wolverines made just 4 of 22 shots from three-point range. “The offensive execution got us.”
Elkhorn shot 50 percent from the floor in winning its fourth straight SLC game. Elkhorn finished the season 9-5 in the SLC.
The one player who did shoot quite well for Waterford was senior forward Stephanie Rank who led both squads with 29 points.
Rank was fouled often, and made 11 of 15 free throws, in addition to her nine baskets.
Freshman guard Madison Blair was the only other Wolverine in double figures with 14. Blair also had 10 rebounds, her highest as a Wolverine.
Playoff schedule
Waterford, 13-9 overall, will open WIAA Division 2 postseason action at Cudahy on Friday, March 9, at 7 p.m. Waterford is the No. 5 seed and Cudahy the No. 4 seed.
Cudahy, 18-4 overall, is led by senior Taylor Gradinjan, who averages 18 points per game.
“They’re a nice ball team with one phenomenal basketball player,” Brechtl said. “We can definitely win this game if we execute.”
The game could will likely hinge on whether either team can nullify the other team’s strengths.
Rank averages 18.5 ppg for Waterford and is a strong inside presence. Gradinjan is a strong outside force.
The winner of this regional semifinal game would probably play (barring an upset) No. 1 seed New Berlin Eisenhower on Saturday, March 10, 7 p.m. at Eisenhower in the regional final.
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