10th-seeded Wolverines lose by 10 to second-seeded HL/O Wildcats
Although the Mountain Lake Area (MLA) Wolverine girls basketball team made a valiant rally at the close of the Section 2A South Subsection game against Heron Lake/Okabena (HL/O) at Okabena on Monday, March 2 – punctuated by junior forward Signey Stoesz and senior forward Brianna Soutthivong – the 10th-seeded Wolverines could not make up the deficit against the second-seeded Wildcats, dropping the quarterfinal tilt, 50-40.
The score at the half was a six point spread, 25-19, favoring the host squad. The Wildcats held the Wolverines scoreless for nearly seven minute at the start of the second half, stretching the difference to 20 points.
It was then MLA mounted a comeback; an effort that fell just 10 points short.
For the Wolverines, Stoesz had 14 points – all in the second half – going 6-f0r-6 from the line. Senior center Madelyn Regier scored 12 points, complemented by 11 rebounds. Lydia Hildebrandt, Wolverine senior guard, added seven points, and on defense, forced three steals. Junior guard Chanah Brandt chipped in four points, one basket on a layup after a steal. Senior forward Brianna Soutthivong scored two on free throws during the MLA spurt near the end of the second half. Sophomore guard Brook Sunderman scored one, and added to the defense with three steals.
The Wildcats were led by Kailey Wendland and her 21 points, backed by Gabi Stenzel’s 14 tallies.
The Wolverines had advanced to the quarterfinal game following their 63-49 upset win over the seventh-seeded Janesville/Waldorf/Pemberton at Janesville on Thursday, February 26. The Wayne Klassen-coached squad finishes the season at 8-17.
Heron Lake/Okabena, now 20-6, had received a first round bye before facing the Wolverines. They advance to the 7:45 p.m. Section 2A, South Subsection Semifinal game to be held on Thursday, March 5, in Fairmont. They will play the third-seeded Granada/Huntley/East Chain Mustangs (13-10). The Mustangs defeated Madelia (4-22), the 11th seed, 53-24 at East Chain on Monday, March 2.
