Indees rally past ECI, win two more

It’s often said that basketball is a game of runs and the Independence/Gilmanton girls basketball team had some big runs at crucial times last week.

The Indees scored the last nine points to upend Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran, 48-46, on the road last week Tuesday. On Thursday, I/G scored the first eight points in a 62-53 win over Black River Falls. The team trailed by 10 at halftime on Friday, but scored the first 12 points of the second half in a 50-42 win over Alma Center Lincoln. 

I/G has won nine of its last 11 games with its only losses coming to Greenwood (16-6) and Cochrane-Fountain City (20-1). The team took a 16-7 overall mark and 10-2 conference record (behind only 11-0 C-FC in the Dairyland Conference Small Division) into the final week with a home game against Augusta on Tuesday.

I/G earned the third seed in its Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Five bracket and will host (14) Eleva-Strum this coming Tuesday. The winner of that game will play the winner between (11) Hillsboro and (6) Alma Center Lincoln next Friday with the regional final — likely at (2) Royall — set for Saturday. 

I/G 48 ECI 46

The Indees ended the game on a 9-0 run to get the win.

I/G trailed 46-39 late in the second half. Their closing run began with a free throw by Nora Schank. The freshman guard missed her second attempt from the line, but the Indees got the rebound and Makiyah Scow scored to cut the deficit to four with about four minutes remaining in the game.

The Lancers had the ball with a four-point lead and two and a half minutes left, but Scow got a steal and pushed the ball up to Schank for a layup. Adison Pronschinske stole the ball on ECI’s next possession then raced to a loose ball to keep the possession for I/G.

After a time out, Kniseley hit a runner to tie the game with about 90 seconds remaining. 

Scow stole the ball on ECI’s next possession then grabbed an offensive rebound. The Lancers regained possession, but a traveling violation gave it back to I/G with about 50 seconds left in the game.

Schank walked the ball up the floor before driving to the basket and drawing a foul with 38 seconds left. She made one free throw to give I/G the lead. 

The Lancers had a chance, but missed three shots on its next possession. The last miss was an airball rebounded by Scow with six seconds left. Scow was fouled and made the first free throw before missing the second. The Lancers pushed the ball up the floor, but missed at the buzzer. 

Schank had a team-high 16 points for I/G and Scow added 15.

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Kniseley 3/13-1/2-2-2-7 Pronschinske 2/7-3/4-4-1-8 Schank 5/11-6/13-5-4-16 S. Dejno 0/5-0/0-1-1-0 C. Kampa 0/2-0/0-2-2-0 K. Dejno 0/4-0/0-5-1-0 Scow 6/16-3/6-7-4-15 Sylla 1/2-0/0-0-0-2

I/G 62 BR Falls 53

The Indees took a big lead into halftime then held off the Tigers late.

I/G scored the first eight points as Pronschinske opened with a jumper, Kassidi Dejno scored off of a miss then later added a free throw and Nora Schank hit a three. The Indees went ahead by 10 at 15-5 on a basket by Shauna Dejno about six minutes into the game.

The Indees were ahead by 21 with three minutes left and took a 31-14 lead into halftime. 

The Tigers clawed their way back into the game. BRF began the second half with a 14-4 run to get within seven. They continued to make the game close as they were within five with 10 minutes left before a basket by Catherine Kampa. 

The Indees went back ahead by 10 with about six minutes left and Scow made it a 12-point game with a basket shortly after as the team held on for the win.

Shauna Dejno scored a team-high 14 points for the Indees, one more than Kniseley. 

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Halama 0/1-0/0-3-0-0 Kniseley 5/19-2/2-0-4-13 Pronschinske 3/6-1/2-7-1-8 Schank 1/7-4/7-8-3-7 S. Dejno 6/9-2/2-7-4-14 C. Kampa 2/2-0/0-2-0-4 K. Dejno 3/6-3/4-11-1-9 Scow 2/6-3/4-4-4-7 Sylla 0/1-0/0-1-0-0

I/G 50 AC Lincoln 42

The Indees trailed by 10 at halftime, but shut the Hornets down in the second half.

I/G began the second half with a 12-0 run as a basket by Shauna Dejno gave the team a 29-27 lead. The Hornets went back ahead, 33-31, but the Indees scored five straight and never trailed again.

The Indees held the Hornets to just 15 points in the second half. For the game, the Hornets shot 33 percent from the field and I/G forced 26 turnovers. 

I/G struggled, shooting 33 percent from the field and nine-for-26 from the charity stripe. Scow had a team-high 16 points. 

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Kniseley 4/18-1/4-5-3-10 Pronschinske 1/6-2/3-2-1-5 Schank 3/12-2/9-8-3-8 S. Dejno 4/5-0/0-7-0-8 K. Dejno 0/1-1/4-4-1-1 Scow 6/13-3/6-6-0-16 Sylla 1/3-0/0-2-0-2