Norse beat Indees, drop two nonconference games

The Whitehall girls basketball team won the most important game it had last week, but lost two others.

The Norse held off a couple of Independence rallies to beat the Indees 50-43 last Thursday. That came after a 65-32 loss to Cadott on Tuesday and before a 64-40 loss to Eau Claire Regis on Saturday. All three games were played at home. 

Whitehall’s (4-6, 0-4) streak of home games continued early this week as they hosted Cochrane-Fountain City on Monday and Alma/Pepin on Tuesday. The Norse are slated to play at Eleva-Strum this coming Monday and at Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran next Thursday.

Cadott 65 Whitehall 32

The Norse weren’t able to get their offense going as the Hornets took a double-digit lead into halftime then broke the game open in the second half.

Whitehall made 13 field goals in the game, compared to 25 — including six three pointers — for Cadott. Eight of Whitehall’s field goals came in the first half, but they didn’t add any free throws and trailed 28-16 at halftime.

The Hornets were able to attack inside and outside all game long. Lauryn Goettl made six shots from inside and drew fouls as she added seven free throws. She also had one of the team’s three-point baskets as she finished with a game-high 22 points. They also got 15 from Elly Eiler and 12 from Emma Kowalczyk. 

Norah Youngbauer got going in the second half as she scored 11 points, but the Norse managed just 16 as a team as the Hornets put the game away.

Youngbauer led Whitehall with 13 points while Olivia Killian scored five, Avery Sonsalla, Haili Sluga and Trinity Aasen all finished with four and Mia Sygulla had two. 

Whitehall 50 IHS 43

Foul trouble cost Whitehall a big early lead, but they held on for the win.

Whitehall had control of the game midway through the first half as they led 20-8, but foul trouble put them in the double bonus and the Indees took advantage with 12 free throws that helped them pull within a point, 24-23, at halftime.

The Norse were able to get some breathing room early in the second half with baskets by Killian and Vaida Goplin. Sluga later added a jumper that made the score 30-25 before Ashlyn Clatt put back a miss, giving the Norse a seven-point lead. 

The Indees scored the next three points to get within two, but the Norse responded with a 7-0 run that put them in control for good. Whitehall had a 42-31 lead late in the game before the Indees climbed back to get within four at 44-40.

A couple of free throws stopped the bleeding for the Norse, then Whitehall’s defense stepped up. The Indees got one more field goal, that made the score 46-42, but would manage just one more point the rest of the way.

Youngbauer led Whitehall with 16 points while both Avery Sonsalla and Carson Coburn scored seven; Clatt and Aasen finished with five; Killian and Sluga had four points and Goplin scored two. 

Callie Zastrow led the Indees with 10 points as both Amiah Ives and Ahnna Bautch scored nine, Adison Pronschinske, eight; Mikiyah Scow, three; Arabelle Kniseley and Kassidi Dejno both scored two. 

ECR 64 Whitehall 40

The Norse didn’t have the firepower to keep up with the Ramblers.

Whitehall trailed 30-19 at halftime before Regis put the game away with 34 points in the second half.

Regis had four players in double figures, led by Ashley Chilsom’s 21 points, including 12 in the first half. Carly Borst scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half while Cara Olson scored 13 and Izzy Reichert finished with 11. 

Both Youngbauer and Killian had nine points for the Norse while Aasen scored eight. Edie Matejka scored six; Avery Sonsalla and Haili Sluga, three and Vaida Goplin, two.