By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
If the second battle between the Big Foot girls basketball team and Clinton next week is anything like the first, fans will be in for a treat.
Because the first was a doozy.
In a battle for first place in the Rock Valley Conference South Division, the Chiefs built a big first-half lead, then had to pull out a 64-60 double-overtime victory Monday night.
Big Foot improved to 13-5 overall and 9-3 in the RVC, one game ahead of Clinton. The teams meet again at Clinton Tuesday night.
The atmosphere was electric from the start, Big Foot coach Rick Schoenbeck said.
“We probably had 500-plus people watching the game,” he said. “Most of us will not forget that game. Winning conference is not easy.
“We are down one starter (Courtney Schoenbeck) for the entire Rock Valley schedule. We have worked hard and girls have adjusted roles will improving all year. We are here to win the conference outright, as we started the year with that goal.”
Big Foot led by as many as 15 points in the first half, as it relied on its constant defensive pressure, and on offense, ball movement and solid shooting against a packed-in man-to-man defense, Schoenbeck said.
“We were flying on all cylinders on offense (early) and defensively, were flying around and kept them under pressure,” he said. “It was a very fast-paced game.”
Clinton battled back to outscore the Chiefs 35-22 in the second half and force the first of two overtimes.
A switch to a 2-3 zone slowed down the Chiefs, Schoenbeck said.
“We turned the ball over many times, they knocked down shots and a 13-point lead was gone,” he said. “We were down four before we adjusted.
“We are fast and have to be moving for success. Clinton was big and wanted a slow, half-court game. They controlled tempo in the second half, and until we changed that, we struggled on both ends.”
Reagan Courier led the Chiefs with 18 points, followed by Brooke Wellhausen with 13, Payton Courier with 12, Zanzie Demco with 11 and Olivia Briggs with 10.
Big Foot outscored Clinton 15-10 from the free-throw line for the game.
The Chiefs returned to action Thursday night at Brodhead – an important game to focus on before the rematch with the Cougars, Schoenbeck said.
“We have to take one game at a time and not look ahead,” he said. “We are not the same team on the road, and I do not want to stumble or have a hangover from the Clinton win (at Brodhead). These girls know how to play basketball as a team and know how to win.”
Chiefs win two
Big Foot opened the week with a 52-48 win Jan. 27 over visiting Beloit Turner, followed by a 73-48 win the next night over Evansville.
The Chiefs trailed by two points against Turner, but outscored the Trojans 25-19 in the second half.
Reagan Courier had 14 points to lead the way, followed by Payton Courier with 12 and Wellhausen with 11.
Big Foot controlled the game with Evansville, as the Chiefs built a 46-23 halftime lead and cruised to the 25-point win.
Payton Courier had a team-high 17 points, followed by Briggs with 15, Reagan Courier with 14 and Wellhausen with 13.
