Early second half run ends B-T’s season

A five-point lead for the Blair-Taylor girls basketball team disappeared as Bangor began the second half with an 8-2 run to take a lead they would never give back in their Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Five semifinal game in Independence last Thursday.

“(Bangor) just had a little extra energy, a little extra get after the ball and we needed to step up to that and be stronger,” B-T coach Jesse Lien said. “They were the ones who were stronger and pushed their way through, they hit the open shots when they had them.”

The Wildcats led 27-24 at halftime and then Chloe Wagner scored early in the second half to push the lead to five. 

Shortly after, though, Wagner — B-T’s top post player — picked up her third foul. Bangor’s Madeline Janisch made one of two free throws before Nora Tucker scored five straight, including a three pointer that put the Cardinals ahead for the first time since the opening minute of the game.

Janisch then scored again, sparking a B-T timeout as Bangor led 32-29 with 15 minutes left in the game.

Lindsay Steien scored 21 points in the first half, but Bangor was determined to not let her repeat the performance in the second. They threw numerous defenders at her, cutting off lanes to the basket and preventing her from getting the ball. 

“They were just keeping the ball out of her hands,” Lien said. “When she got rid of it, they didn’t let her have it back. That’s when the other girls on the team need to step up and hit that shot. We had a lot of open shots, we just didn’t get many of them to go tonight.”

Steien didn’t score until she got to the basket to cut what was a six-point Bangor lead to two with 10:35 left. Two minutes later, however, Wagner picked up her fourth foul and Bangor took advantage with five straight points to take a 44-37 lead with 7:16 remaining.

After two free throws, Kierstyn Kindschy gave the Wildcats a spark with a three pointer, making the score 44-42 with 5:55 left in the game.

But that’s as close as B-T would get.

The Wildcats had a chance to tie the game, or take the lead, but missed three shots on their next possession. Bangor’s Tucker then scored four straight.

Steien got to the basket for a hoop to cut the lead back to four, but the Cardinals then began playing keep away. They milked more than 30 seconds off the clock before the Wildcats were forced to foul.

Taylor Jacobson made two free throws for B-T with 1:17 remaining. After Steien missed a shot, Jacobson made one and missed the second, but Gabby Schroeder got the offensive rebound. Two more Jacobson free throws put Bangor ahead by eight.

The Wildcats scored six of the last seven points in the game, but Bangor’s lead was never seriously threatened. The last points came with less than one second left in the game.

“I give (our players) 1,000 percent credit. We didn’t quit, our girls didn’t quit. (Bangor) made the free throws down the stretch, I give them credit,” Lien said.

While the run to begin the second half put B-T behind, Lien thought his team could’ve been in better position had they made free throws early.

Steien missed three free throws early in the game as the team struggled at the line in the first half.

“(If) we make our free throws in the first half, we’re up by 10 at least at halftime. We were really bad on the free-throw line. That’s the deciding factor,” Lien said. 

Steien scored B-T’s first eight points with two three pointers, though she missed three free throws in the first three minutes of the game. 

The Wildcats led 13-7 halfway through the first half, before Bangor mad a run to get within two at 14-12. From there, the teams went back and forth. Steien made a three pointer to put B-T ahead 21-17 with five minutes left in the half. Bangor scored four of the next six points before Steien scored again, making the score 25-21. Bangor got back within one before Steien scored with five seconds left in the half to give the Wildcats a 27-24 halftime lead.

Steien led the Wildcats with 28 points, while Abby Thompson finished with 10. Kindschy scored five; Wagner, four; Josie Waldera, two and Sydney Fremstad had one. 

While the loss was tough for his squad, Lien was proud of the season his team had, going 26-2 with both losses being to Bangor.

“Unbelievable season, unbelievable group of girls,” Lien said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more. If the ball bounces one way or the other and we might be talking  the other way. But I told them in the locker room, don’t hang your heads. Hold them high, you deserve it. You had a heck of a season.”