Team heads into regional action next week
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
There were moments Monday night when the East Troy High School girls basketball team gave one of the top teams in the Rock Valley Conference’s North Division all it could handle.
Unfortunately for the Trojans, a tough first half proved to be too much to overcome.
East Troy struggled in the opening 18 minutes at Edgerton, before it put together a strong second half, but it wasn’t enough in a 59-43 RVC setback.
The loss dropped the Trojans to 10-11 overall and 6-9 in the RVC. Whitewater, the state’s top-ranked Division 3 team, has clinched the North at 15-0, followed by McFarland at 13-2 and Edgerton at 12-3.
“We had a very difficult time getting into gaps of their defense (in the first half),” East Troy coach Jeff Brown said. “When we did, we didn’t shoot well.”
East Troy put 31 points on the scoreboard in the second half.
“We got more on the attack in the second half,” Brown said. “We were much more aggressive.”
Erin Rice led the way with 16 points, followed by Mackenzie Lindow with 11.
East Troy traveled to McFarland on Friday night, and hung right with the Spartans through the first half.
The Trojans trailed by just four points at the intermission, 26-22. McFarland used a 35-29 second half to finally pull away.
“We played really well,” Brown said. “We lost to them by 28 the first time, and we were in a five-point game with five minutes left. Every time we got close, one of their players would keep us at bay.”
Lindow had a huge game offensively for the Trojans, as she led the way with 25 points and grabbed four rebounds.
“She is attacking,” Brown said. “She wants to be a good teammate and get everybody the ball. I have been trying to get her to look for her own shot.”
Rice added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Maddie Rosin with six points and seven rebounds. Samantha Betley added six points, while Callie Vogel had seven rebounds and four steals.
East Troy closes its regular season to night at Whitewater. The Trojans drew the No. 8 seed in the Division 3 regional and will host No. 9 Brodhead Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The Trojans beat Brodhead 54-47 in early December. Keeping the Cardinals’ top scorer, Erin Nyhus, who averages 17.2 points a game, under wraps will be a key, Brown said. Nyhus was held scoreless in the teams’ first meeting.
The winner Tuesday travels to Whitewater next Friday, Feb. 24, for a regional semifinal matchup with the Whippets.
Trojans fall on the road
East Troy opened its week with a 45-36 loss Feb. 7 at Edgerton. The Trojans fell behind 29-12 at halftime before they outscored the Tide 24-16 in the second half to cut into the deficit.
Rice had a team-high 12 points, followed by Lindow and Rosin each with 11. Betley grabbed five rebounds for the Trojans.
