By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School girls basketball led an opponent at halftime for the first time this season Feb. 12 in a Southern Lakes Conference game at home against Westosha Central.
Central outscored the Elks in the second half and beat Elkhorn 47-45.
Union Grove beat Elkhorn 48-29 Feb. 9 in a SLC game at home.
The Elks (0-20, 0-13 SLC) played a SLC game Tuesday at Delavan-Darien (12-9, 8-5 SLC) and play a non-conference game Friday at home against Jefferson (10-9).
Coach Todd Frohwirth said the Elks and Falcons were tied with a minute left in regulation. Elkhorn’s Payton Christensen missed a 3-point field goal short before the Falcons responded with a 3-point field goal of their own.
Frohwirth said Christensen hit two free throws late for the final margin.
“The girls continue to have passion for each other and the game,” Frohwirth said. “The best group of kids I have ever coached, and I have been doing this 30 years.”
Elkhorn led 24-22 at halftime. Central outscored the Elks 25-21 in the second half.
Christensen led the Elks with 12 points. Riley Rand added 10 points and Olivia May scored nine. Lindsay Kempier led the Falcons with a game-high 21 points.
“Ryley Rand & Chloe Ehrhardt have emerged as quality varsity players,” Frohwirth said. “They both join Payton Christensen, another freshman, who has been a solid contributor all year.”
Frohwirth said seniors Megan Skoczylas, Taylor Mair, Jessica Barrett & Jen Cook have offered the squad’s younger players leadership and support.
“Unselfishly, knowing we would have trouble winning this year, they have played so hard and shown the young players the way to success,” Frohwirth said.
Against Union Grove (17-4, 11-2 SLC) the Elks trailed by one point at halftime – 15-14. The Broncos are in first place in the SLC.
“The better teams have a number of adjustments they can make, which Union Grove does & did against us that night,” Frohwirth said. “They pounded us inside in the second half and we were too small.”
The Broncos outscored the Elks 33-15 in the second half.
Rand led the Elks with 10 points. Frohwirth said May’s defense and rebounding in the first half gave the Elks’ guard room to compete. May scored seven points.
Janelle Schiffler led the Broncos with a game-high 14 points.
