Norse girls get nonconference win

The Whitehall girls basketball team dominated in the paint as they picked up a nonconference win last week.

The Norse pulled down 47 rebounds as they beat Black River Falls 62-42 at home last week Monday. They were scheduled to play at Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran last Friday, but the game was postponed. 

The win put Whitehall’s record at 8-4 on the season. They’re 1-4 in Dairyland Conference play with games at Alma/Pepin on Monday and at home against Gilmanton on Thursday. This coming Tuesday, they’ll head to Alma Center Lincoln before playing at Melrose-Mindoro next Friday.

Whitehall 62 BRF 42

The Norse controlled the paint as they pulled away from the Tigers in the second half.

Whitehall got a career night from sophomore Olivia Killian, who scored 23 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.  Her effort helped the Norse dominate the glass, outrebounding the Tigers 47-29. Work on the offensive glass helped Whitehall score 17 second-chance points — to BRF’s eight — as the Norse had 24 offensive rebounds. 

Killian got off to a fine start with eight points in the first half with the Norse taking a 29-20 lead into halftime. In the second half, though, Avery Sonsalla knocked down two three pointers while Killian scored 15 points to break the game open.

Norah Youngbauer was second on Whitehall with 10 points, Sonsalla scored nine. 

BRF actually shot a better percentage from the field — 35 percent to 33 percent — but the Norse had more opportunities. Whitehall finished with 60 field goal attempts to BRF’s 51. Whitehall was also able to attempt 24 more free throws than BRF.

Whitehall (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Sonalla 3/7-2/4-1-1-9 Sluga 1/5-0/0-7-0-3 Youngbauer 2/13-5/6-2-2-10 Pientok 1/4-3/4-10-2-5 Aasen 3/10-0/0-4-2-6 Killian 9/17-5/7-17-2-23 Clatt 1/2-4/8-3-3-6 Matejka 0/0-0/0-0-2-0 Coburn 0/2-0/2-0-0-0