Storm steam past Wolves

By Josh Staloch

Sports Editor

KEWAUNEE –Behind a well-rounded effort on offense as well as a suffocating defense, the Kewaunee Storm overwhelmed Algoma on Thursday, Jan. 25 in a Packerland Conference showdown, with the final score reading 67-38.

“We timed it pretty good, I wished we had pushed it a little more alley,” said Kewaunee head coach Lynn Geier, critiquing her defense’s pressure and its attempts to hold the Algoma ball handlers along the sidelines where good options are harder to come by. “But they worked hard. I was nervous about tonight, I’m always nervous. It’s always a mental game against Algoma. I tried to calm my kids down, told them we were going to have to come out and play hard.”

The Storm were off to a hot start on Thursday, with Jade Kroll knocking down a deep three-pointer before an Algoma turnover resulted in a bucket for Gabrielle Stangel to make it 5-0. Algoma’s Brooke Mattson got the Wolves on the board with a score down low off a nice assist from Jadyn Nellis but Kewaunee responded with six straight points from Kroll, who had another big game for the Storm with 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

Summer Walechka went 7-for-7 from the field on her way to 17 points, three boards, two assists and a steal; Stangel finished with 12 points, four boards, three assists and four steals and Lexi Hanrahan turned in 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block.

“They were hungry and they played really well tonight,” said Algoma head coach Mark Zastrow of the opposition last Thursday. “They were at least a step quicker, whether it was rebounds or loose balls, they had the energy. There was a mental and physical fatigue there that happened from how aggressive Kewaunee was playing us. Credit to them. They played very well and we need to play much better.”

Ryley Zimmerman scored 14 points in the loss, followed by nine from Sierra Slaby and eight from Brooke Mattson.

Wolves take care of Bulldogs

PESHTIGO – In a low-scoring Packerland Conference matchup on Friday, Jan. 26, Algoma defeated Peshtigo 36-27.

Jadyn Nellis had a big game for the Wolves with her game-high 18 points, followed by nine from Therese Gerdmann, six from Sierra Slaby and three from Ryley Zimmerman.

Wolves lose in double OT

ALGOMA – The Wolves and the Pioneers battled their way to a 31-31 tie at the end of regulation on Tuesday, Jan. 30, setting up a defensive-grind of an overtime session that saw the teams each score four in the first extra period before Sevastopol outscored Algoma 1-0 in the second OT round to get the 36-35 win.

In the loss, Ryley Zimmerman and Sierra Slaby each had 11 points while Claire Gerdmann and Brooke Mattson both had four points.

Spartans defeated by Wrightstown

LUXEMBURG – The L-C girls lost a close North Eastern Conference game at home against the Tigers on Thursday, Jan. 25 by a final score of 42-39.

Brianna Bray led the Spartans with 10 points,  followed by eight from Maddie Hanmann and seven apiece from Erin Cherovsky and Sienna Blohowiak.

L-C loses another close one

DENMARK – The Spartans and the Vikings were all tied up 45-45 at the end of regulation on Tuesday, Jan. 30, with L-C looking to get back on track following two-straight losses. But the Spartans couldn’t get anything going in overtime, outscored 9-0 as Denmark escaped Luxemburg with a 54-45 victory.

Erin Cherovsky was the team’s high scorer with 13, followed by 12 from Alayna Deprez and 11 from Brianna Bray.