Raider girls team storms through regional games

Chloe Halverson of Arcadia drew contact as she went for a layup during their regional semifinal game against Ellsworth on Friday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
The Arcadia girls basketball team started rolling in the final minute of the regional semifinal game and never looked back.
The Raiders had struggled to get any separation from Ellsworth before a 10-2 run in the final minute of the first half to take a 10-point lead into halftime before they cruised to a 25-point win. They continued to roll in the regional final game, knocking down 10 three pointers in the first half of a 59-32 win over Elk Mound. No further information from the game against Elk Mound was reported to the Times before press time.
With a 21-3 record, the top-seeded Raiders will face another 21-3 team as they head to Altoona to take on second-seeded Prescott on Thursday. The Cardinals are coming off of a 67-55 win over West Salem. The winner will play again on Saturday taking on the winner of the game between Saint Croix Falls (23-1) and Northwestern (21-3) at Baldwin-Woodville.
Arcadia 69 Ellsworth 44 - The Panthers gave the Raiders all they can handle early, but Arcadia eventually took control of the game.
The Raiders appeared to be in control early when a basket by Ellie Hoesley and three pointer by Chloe Halverson put them ahead 11-6, but the Panthers came back with a 9-3 run, capped with a three pointer by Holly Carlson that put them ahead 15-14 with 6:15 left in the first half.
Arcadia’s Mercedes Romo responded with a three, but Ellsworth’s Heyley Bach came right back with another.
Ali Pronschinske gave the Raiders a spark in the final five minutes of the half, knocking down a long jump shot followed by a layup that put Arcadia ahead 21-18 with 4:04 left before halftime.
Arcadia had a 24-20 lead before Halverson connected on a three with 55 seconds left. After an Ellsworth basket, Hoesley knocked down a jump shot before the Raiders got a turnover and pushed the ball up the floor to Halverson who nailed another three pointer just before the buzzer sounded to put Arcadia ahead 32-22 at halftime.
The second half was all Arcadia as the Raiders were able to get the ball inside to Linzy Sendelbach early and knocked down a few more outside shots as they put the game away.
No statistics from the game were reported to the Times.