Carollo, Grosinske lead offensive charge
By Daniel Schoettler
Sports Correspondent
Balanced scoring continued to be an important part of the Whitewater High School girls basketball team this year.
Sophomore Kacie Carollo and junior Abby Grosinske put together double-digit efforts in two wins that pushed the Whippets to a 9-6 record going into Thursday’s (Jan. 24) road game against Edgerton.
On Monday against Delavan-Darien, Whitewater started the game on a 7-0 run, including a three-pointer from Carollo, before taking a 21-18 lead at the half. The Whippets started the second half on an 8-0 spurt to push their lead to double digits at 29-18.
After two free throws from Grosinske made it 35-25, the Comets went on an 8-2 run to cut their deficit to 37-33. Whitewater ended the game on a 14-5 tear, including 10 points combined from Carollo and Grosinske to grab the 51-38 win.
“We had sparks where we would get excited, press and get a few turnovers. All of a sudden we would get a jump ball instead of a steal,” head coach Kristen Lippens said. “Part of the reason why we didn’t have as many runs or weren’t consistent was because we didn’t rebound as well as we should have and didn’t execute on offense as well as we normally do.”
Whitewater made 14 shots, including one from downtown. The Whippets finished 22-for-26 from the free-throw line.
Carollo led the way with 19 points, while Grosinske added 16. Jaden Henneman chipped in 8 points for the Whippets.
Against Beloit Turner on Jan. 15, Whitewater trailed by one at the half, 19-18, before outscoring the Trojans 32-29 in the second half to pull out a 50-48 win.
Carollo led the way with 19 points, while Grosinske and Henneman registered 12 apiece.
“I think when it was time to execute, that the girls made sure they ended up with that win,” Lippens said. “Jaden had one of her best games; her defense and rebounding were great. She ended up with a double-double and it helped give the team a spark.”
Whitewater was sitting at 7-4 in Rock Valley Conference play. The Whippets also face East Troy at home on Tuesday.
“We need to come to this game and clean up some of the sloppiness, so we can work on our offense and defense and execute,” Lippens said. “This is the second half of the season, so this is when every game is going to count.”
