G-E-T girls fall in regional semifinal

The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau girls entered postseason play last week hoping to put a seven-game losing streak behind them and focus on one game at a time.

After a blowout win last Tuesday over Mauston, it appeared like a rough season and stretch over the final couple weeks of the season was fading in the rear-view mirror. G-E-T entered Friday’s road rematch with third-seeded West Salem with confidence that the third time against the Panthers in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Two Regional Semifinal would be the charm.

By game’s end however, it would appear that a familiar foe would provide familiar problems as the Red Hawks’ season came to an end with a loss. West Salem went on to lose to second-seeded Prescott in the regional final on Saturday.

G-E-T finished the year 9-15 overall including playoffs, as well as a 4-8 mark in the Coulee that slotted them fifth in the conference. They will graduate seniors Alexa Hammond, Cassy Schmitz, Alivia Beaman and Lexie Kiedrowski this coming spring.

G-E-T 61 Marston 15 - The regional opener for G-E-T began with a 2-1 deficit to Mauston, who entered the game 0-22. 

The Golden Eagles’ go-ahead bucket would be their only basket for nearly 20 minutes of game clock as G-E-T finished the half ahead 33-2. Their lead swelled to 50-2 with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game before Mauston got a layup to fall.

The win for the Red Hawks was their first in eight games since a Jan. 25 win over Viroqua. G-E-T head coach Louis Hurd said the playoff opener was an “interesting opportunity” for a team on a slide to hit the “reset” button.

“You only have to win one game. Nothing is tied to your record. You’re not thinking about keeping pace in the conference. That’s quite freeing for players and coaches, and I think that can allow for more confident play,” Hurd said.

Cassy Schmitz led the scoring for G-E-T with 17 points, followed by 10 from Genna O’Neill, nine from Aleah Hunter, eight from Lindsey Lettner, seven from Alexa Hammond, four from Alivia Beaman, three from Kyle Schmitz, two from Grace Shanley and one from Kayli Bratberg. 

The Red Hawks tallied 19 assists, led by five from Lettner. On the boards, O’Neill and Bratberg led the team with six rebounds each, and O’Neill added three steals defensively. As a team, Mauston tallied 29 turnovers leading to 39 G-E-T points. The win for the Red Hawks advanced them to last Friday’s regional semifinal against third-seeded West Salem.

Going into their third matchup of the year with the Panthers, Hurd said that the same freedom of just focusing on one game would allow them to avenge losses of 60-51 and 57-43 earlier this season.

“We know we have been close to Salem both times, but just haven’t gotten over the hump,” Hurd said prior to the game. “The added feel of a ‘we just have to win one game’ will make for an interesting game on Friday.”

West Salem 59 G-E-T 43 - Three Panthers reached double-digits in scoring as WS rolled to victory in Friday’s regional semifinal. 

West Salem led 30-20 at half, and were led on the game by 15 points from Ella Jordan, 12 from Anna McConkey and 10 from Maddie Quick. Leading the Red Hawks were 14 points from O’Neill. 

Additional stats were not provided by press time.

 

 

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