By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
It appears the Elkhorn Area High School girls’ basketball team is finding additional offense.
The Elks lost 49-34 Jan. 3 in a non-conference game at home against Monroe and 44-42 in overtime Jan. 2 at home against non-conference opponent Milton.
Elkhorn lost two games in the Fort Atkinson Holiday Tournament. Elkhorn lost 45-25 Dec. 27 to Wisconsin Lutheran and 52-22 Dec. 26 to Fort Atkinson. Both games were played at Fort Atkinson High School.
Elks coach Jim Henriott said the team found some height in the Trombley sisters. Bianca Trombley, a junior, played her first minutes of the season against Milton.
Alex Trombley, a freshman, was promoted to varsity and also played her first varsity minutes against Milton.
“Hopefully with some more kids and some height we can play a little better,” Henriott said.
Against Monroe (4-6) the Elks trailed by just five points, 24-19, at halftime.
The Cheesemakers outscored the Elks 12-6 in the third quarter and 25-15 in the second half.
“They were just a little bit better than us in the post, and they got some things done,” Henriott said.
Abbie Kolacke led the Elks with 10 points. Bianca Trombley added nine. Monroe’s Alacia Keegan scored a game-high 18.
Elkhorn led Milton (6-4) by two points with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.
The Red Hawks converted a three-point play to take a brief lead before Elkhorn tied the game and forced overtime.
Milton outscored Elkhorn 12-10 in overtime.
“We scored a lot of points in overtime,” Henriott said “We just let them score two more. I think we matched-up well with them. We executed some offense and ran some offense and were able to get some decent looks at the basket and get some points.”
Henriott said the Elks missed 10 to 12 shots within three feet of the basket, a problem for the Elks so far this season and one Henriott said the team is working to correct.
Kolacke led Elkhorn with 13 points. Megan Skoczylas scored 10. Anna Gunderson led Milton with 13 points.
Henriott said the Elks played with a short bench in the Fort Atkinson Holiday Tournament. The Elks trailed early in each game.
Fort Atkinson (5-6) led the Elks 26-10 at halftime and outscored Elkhorn 26-12 in the second half. Wisconsin Lutheran (7-3) led 23-11 at halftime and outscored Elkhorn 22-14 in the second half.
Kolacke led the Elks with 10 points against Wisconsin Lutheran and nine points against Fort Atkinson.
Henriott said the Elks’ numbers improved with the addition of the Trombleys, and practice is now more robust. The Elks recently scrimmaged in practice for the first time this season.
“It was nice to be able to run some things,” Henriott said. “We hadn’t been able to run some things.”
The Elks play at Burlington tonight in a Southern Lakes Conference contest. The Demons (5-7, 3-3 SLC) beat Elkhorn 48-20 Dec. 5 at Elkhorn.
