Kroll breaks career scoring record

Kewaunee’s all-time career scoring record was broken Saturday by senior guard Jadelynn “Jade” Kroll, who says it’s something she’s been shooting for since her freshman year.
“I’ve been really looking forward to breaking it,” said Kroll, who missed the first half of her freshman season with a broken wrist. “I really pushed, and I’m happy that I was able to get it.”

The record fell early in an 86-20 blowout of Sevastopol at Kewaunee. Kroll did it the same way against the same school she scored her 1,000th point last season, with a made free throw against the Pioneers.

She poured in 31 points, her fifth 30-point-plus game of the season, and followed it Tuesday with 21 in a 69-20 win over Southern Door. The Storm are 11-0 in the Packerland, 16-5 overall.

Kroll has 1,631 points, and counting. She broke a nine-year-old record set in 2017 by Coach Lynn Geier’s daughter, Brookelynn “Brooke” Geier. Geier had the single-game scoring record of 33, which Kroll topped last year with 39. Kroll had 482 points this season heading into Friday’s game. Geier holds the school record at 534.

Now Brooke Geier Tulachka, she’s been an assistant coach the past three years.

“Records are meant to be broken, and I am so proud and happy to pass this record over to Jade,” Brooke said. “She has put so much time into this game and carries all the qualities we coaches teach and expect within the Kewaunee girls program, including leadership, work ethic, accountability and selflessness. She shows humbleness in knowing none of this is possible without the support of her teammates along the way.”

Brooke said she has no intention of becoming a head coach at this time, but maybe one day down the road she’ll see where the journey takes her.

“I am so honored and blessed to be assisting my mom,” Brooke said. “It has always been a dream of mine. Coaching alongside of her, I realize her ‘why’ when I was a player — why she pushed us so hard, and why she strived for us to be great student athletes.”

Brooke and her sister, Nicole, are proud daughters of a hall of fame coach and mother (Lynn Geier was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024).

“My mom doesn’t just shape athletic performance, but character, and she provides young athletes with a foundation that remains strong throughout life,” Brooke said “There’s so much time and effort year-round that she has put into building this program. Just recently she reached a milestone, her 400th career win, something so special and amazing to achieve. We are so proud of her. She is a down-to-earth mother and coach. Her guidance, supportive, selfless, caring, inspirational self is so heartwarming to have in life.”

Brooke was the starting point guard on the Kewaunee girls’ varsity team all four years. As a three-sport athlete, she didn’t miss any games due to injury or illness, and went on to play college basketball at UW-Stevens Point.

Kroll has been playing basketball for years, including AAU and school ball, but said she’s not going to play at the next level.

“I just want to focus on my career as I go to college,” she said. “I still love the game. I might do intramurals, if it works into my schedule. But right now, we’re just focused on the conference title, then regionals, then sectionals.”

Her fondest memories aren’t of any records she might have, but rather playing basketball with friends.

“We’ve been playing together since third grade,” Kroll said. “It’s kind of sad knowing that it’s coming to an end soon. We just have that connection.”

Besides Kroll’s big day Saturday, Braelyn Chevalier added 18 and Gabby Stangel 10. Kroll and Chevalier each made three three-pointers.

On Tuesday, Stangel had four 3s and 18 points in a 50-point first half as the Storm crushed the Eagles. Stangel had five 3s on the night and finished with 23 points. Kroll added 21, and Walechka 11.

At Seymour last Thursday, the Storm had a tough night shooting, yet still had two opportunities to tie late after a furious comeback. Ultimately, Kewaunee lost 51-47. Kroll scored 17, Stangel 11 and Walechka 10.

The Storm host Sturgeon Bay Friday, and wraps up its Packerland schedule next Thursday at home against Gibraltar.

Algoma’s chance for a shot at a co-championship — provided it takes care of business Friday at Gibraltar — will come at Fulwiler Fieldhouse Monday night when the Wolves host Kewaunee.

“I’m very comfortable that we can do what we can do,” said Algoma Coach Mark Zastrow. “We were within six points of them late in the game down there. Ultimately we want to keep getting better, and our kids are committed to that.”

The Wolves got off to a rough start in a non-conference game against state-ranked Kohler Tuesday, but played better in the second half in a 77-52 loss.

Kohler’s 5-11 sophomore star Gwenn Elliott almost had her season scoring average of 23.5 points per game by halftime (she had 22), and finished with 36. Senior Claire Brotz added 18, including four three-pointers.

“We weren’t mentally prepared for that aggressive press way up by the baseline, and that’s on me,” said Algoma Coach Mark Zastrow. “I’m proud of the kids for battling. We got into some foul trouble, which changed our rotation, and we got into some bad spots early so we were kind of chasing our tail. But the body language was outstanding. They competed. They never quit. The result isn’t what we wanted but I think our kids learned from it.”

Senior guard Jadyn Nellis had 17 points for the Wolves, including a trio of 3s, while freshman guard Reagan Schneider added 16 on five three-pointers and a free throw. Sadie Rikkola had some strong drives to the basket and finished with eight points.

Spartans lose Bray

The Spartans beat Denmark 34-33 in an exciting Sting Cancer Night battle Friday, but lost star guard Brianna Bray to a knee injury in the second half.

Sienna Blohowiak’s two free throws late provided the winning margin.

“We tell the girls all the time in practice, you have to have ice in your veins and go up there confident and make it count,” said L-C coach Beth Budnik. “It was a great team win. Everyone stepped up when Brianna got hurt.”

Bray had a trio of three-pointers and scored 11. Blohowiak added 8, Chloe Host 7, and Alayna Mrotek and Alayna Deprez each four. Mrotek hit a key pair of baskets late.

L-C moved to within one game of the North Eastern Conference leaders with the win, but dropped two games back after falling to Wrightstown Tuesday.

In their first game without Bray, L-C got a trio of three-pointers and 14 points from Blohowiak, but just 11 points from the rest of the team in a 37-25 loss.

A senior, Bray came into the season with 702 points. She was averaging 13.3 points per

game, and was within striking range of 1,000 career points.

“You feel for her,” said Budnik. “She’s a leader. You hope for the best, but right now we’ll need to have others step up and take care of business.”

The Spartans host Freedom Friday, travel to Clintonville Tuesday and wrap up the regular season at home against Oconto Falls Thursday.

Seven still unbeaten

Pardeeville is the only unbeaten girls basketball team left in Div. 4. There are three in Div. 3 (Oostburg, Wisconsin Dells and Wittenberg-Birnamwood), two in Div. 5 (Eleva-Strum and Webster) and one in Div. 1 (Wauwatosa East).