WHS girls beat Mel-Min, falter at B-T

After taking the lead in the Dairlyand Conference Large Division, the Whitehall girls basketball team was knocked back into a first-place tie.

The Norse had trailed Melrose-Mindoro in the standings all season until last Tuesday when Whitehall knocked down several three pointers and upended the Norse 72-60 to take the lead in the conference. That lead was gone after Friday, however, when Blair-Taylor scored the first 11 points and upset Whitehall, 61-57.

Whitehall (13-8, 7-5) still has a decent chance to win the outright title. After Tuesday’s nonconference game at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau, Whitehall’s final DC game comes Thursday at home against last-place Augusta. Mel-Min’s last game was played Tuesday, taking on the top team in the entire DC in state-ranked Cochrane-Fountain City. 

The Norse will begin Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association play next week Friday as the fifth seed playing at fourth-seeded Auburndale (14-8). The winner of that game will play on Saturday, likely at (1) Neillsville. 

Whitehall 72 Mel-Min 60

The Norse knocked down a handful of three pointers in the second half as it took control of the game.

Whitehall stretched a three-point first half lead to seven by halftime thanks, in part, to two baskets by Aryana Ausderau. But the Mustangs stuck in the game and were within three early in the second half before Whitehall went on a 15-6 run.

Trinity Aasen scored four straight points then drilled a three pointer that gave Whitehall a 45-34 lead. Kayla Lambeck scored four of Whitehall’s next five points to stretch the advantage to 12. The Norse put the game away with consecutive three points by Haili Sluga and Aasen, the second of which gave the team a 59-42 lead.

Whitehall shot about 39 percent from the game, while holding Mel-Min to 30 percent. Olivia Killian controlled the paint with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Aasen added 13 points, Lambeck scored 12 and Sluga finished with 11. 

Whitehall (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Sluga 2/6-6/9-2-3-11 Killian 8/13-6/15-11-4-22 Correa 2/5-0/0-2-4-6 Lambeck 4/15-4/7-2-2-12 Ausderau 3/4-0/0-6-4-6 Aasen 5/12-1/2-9-5-13 Loveng 0/0-0/1-1-0-0 Klomsten 0/20/0-0-0-0 Clatt 0/3-2/4-3-5-2