By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School girls basketball team is playing well in the season’s early going, even if the team has yet to win a game.
The Elks lost 63-36 Nov. 20 in a non-conference game at Whitnall and dropped their season opener 57-35 Nov. 17 at home against non-conference foe Clinton.
The Elks break for the Thanksgiving holiday and resume play Dec. 1 in a non-conference matchup at Milton (1-0).
Elks coach Todd Frohwirth said longer games are, right now, helping deeper teams that have played together in the past.
Starting with this season the WIAA eliminated quarters in boys and girls basketball. Teams now play two 18-minute halves after previously playing four eight-minute quarters. Games this season are four minutes longer than in previous seasons.
According to published reports it is the second time since 2009 in which the WIAA has experimented with halves. Schools could play 16-minute halves for regular-season, non-conference games in the 2009-10 season.
The Elks (0-2) played well in the first half against both Whitnall (1-0) and Clinton (1-1).
“My girls are doing great – that’s why we are playing so well in the first half,” Frohwirth said. “We need more time to learn how to finish games off and compete in both halves.”
The Elks trailed Whitnall 36-26 after the first half and trailed Clinton by just one point, 27-26, at halftime.
“Megan Skoczylas is leading very well and getting us ready to play,” Frohwirth said. “She is really responsible for us having great starts.”
Whitnall outscored the Elks 27-10 and Clinton outscored the Elks 30-9 in the second half.
“The longer games are helping the deeper teams, it seems,” Frohwirth said. “Also, we are learning and getting better every day, but other teams have more options and ability to make more adjustments than us because they have been together longer.”
Frohwirth is in his first season as head coach of the Elks, and said the team held six practices before playing Clinton and a few more before playing Whitnall.
Riley Rand led the Elks with 11 points against Whitnall. Alex Trombley scored eight and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Skoczylas, Payton Christensen and Chloe Erhardt each scored eight points against Clinton. Olivia May played well on defense and finished with six rebounds.
