Whitehall beats BRF after two conference losses
Olivia Killian of Whitehall put up a shot during their game against Alma/Pepin last week Tuesday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
After a touch start, the Whitehall girls basketball team finished the week with a win.
The Norse fell behind Cochrane-Fountain City early in their game last week Tuesday. Whitehall fought back to make the game competitive, but the Pirates held on. The Norse then lost to Alma/Pepin, 51-48, before ending the week with a 59-43 win over Black River Falls.
Whitehall (5-8, 0-5) was in action at Eleva-Strum on Monday and will play at Eau Claire Immanuel on Thursday. This coming Monday they have a rematch with Alma/Pepin, this time on the road.
C-FC 63 Whitehall 53
The Norse fought until the end, but they couldn’t climb out of an early hole.
The Pirates came out firing as Lexi Pronschinske scored 15 points in the first half and Emma Mann added 14 as they took a 37-17 lead into halftime.
The lead was still 20 at 47-27 in the second half, but the Norse began to make a move. Whitehall went on a 15-5 run over the next few minutes to cut the lead to 10. That’s as close as they’d get, however, as the Pirates made free throws to seal the victory.
After combining for 29 points in the first half, Pronschinske and Mann had just 11 combined in the second. Pronschinske finished with a game-high 24 points, Mann scored 16.
Whitehall had a balanced attack as Olivia Killian scored 10 to lead the team while Norah Youngbauer added eight, Vaida Goplin, seven; Ashlyn Clatt, six; Edie Matejka, five; Avery Sonsalla, three; Haili Sluga, Mia Sygulla and Carson Coburn all finished with two.
A/P 51 Whitehall 48
The Norse had chances to tie the game late, but they weren’t able to capitalize.
The Eagles took advantage of a foul-filled first half as they attempted 17 free throws, which helped them take a 28-24 lead into halftime. The game remained close throughout the first half as Whitehall had chances to tie the game, but had several empty possessions while trailing 40-37.
As Whitehall missed shots, A/P took advantage with a 5-0 run that didn’t end until a Vaida Goplin jump shot. The Norse stayed in the game and cut the lead back to three in the final minute.
A steal by Youngbauer gave the Norse the ball trailing by three points. After a missed layup, they set up a three-point attempt by Trinity Aasen, but the shot was off the mark. After A/P missed a layup on a fastbreak, the Norse had another shot, but a pass at the buzzer was stolen.
Youngbauer led the Norse with 12 points while Killian added 10; Goplin and Aasen both scored nine; Clatt, six and Sonsalla, two.
Whitehall 59 BR Falls 43
The Norse had a balanced offensive attack in a win over a Coulee Conference team.
Olivia Killian led the way with 14 points and 15 rebounds while Norah Youngbauer scored 12 and Eden Matejka finished with 10. Ten difference Norse players scored in the game, Avery Sonsalla had five points, Alexis Correa, Ashlyn Clatt and Vaida Goplin all had four while Haili Sluga, Trinity Aasen and Mia Sygulla all scored two points.
