By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Badger High School basketball teams split a home doubleheader with Union Grove on Feb. 15. The girls’ team came away with a 50-42 win in their final regular season game of the season while the boys fell 51-46 after leading most of the way.
The first half of the first game was tight as neither girls’ team led by more than seven points. Badger took that seven-point lead at 11-4 on two baskets by LuAnnabelle Wieseman, two free throws by Jada Moss, a basket by Kayla Kerns, and a three-pointer by Ashlyn Welch. Three-pointers by Megan Baker and Peyton Killberg got the Broncos back into it at 13-10.
The Badgers got the lead back up to six at 20-14 and led 24-18 at the half. Union Grove came out strong to start the second half and tied it at 26 on a traditional three-point play by Angela Slattery. Wieseman then got hot for the Badgers scoring eight of the Badgers’ next eleven points that gave Badger a 37-26 lead. Chloe Wright also hit a three-pointer during that stretch.
The game was not over, however. Union Grove got within 39-37 behind two three-pointers by Megan Barber and a basket by Baker with 3:53 to play. Wright hit another three-pointer to give the Badgers some breathing room. The teams traded baskets before Wright made two free throws to put the Badgers up 46-39. A free throw by Moss made it 47-39, but Slattery hit a three-pointer to draw the Broncos within 47-42. With time running lout, the Broncos were forced to foul. Ava Schulz made two free throws and Welch made another to seal the win.
Wieseman led the Badgers with 19 points. Moss added 15. Slattery led Union Grove (12-10, 8-6 Southern Lakes Conference) with 12 points. Barber had ten.
The Badgers (16-6, 11-3 SLC) begin WIAA regional play at home as the #6 seed against #11 Janesville Craig (10-12) tonight. Craig beat Badger 61-48 on Dec. 20 in Janesville in a non-conference game.
Boys fall to Broncos
The boys fell to Union Grove 51-46 in the second half of the doubleheader. The Badgers led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but the Broncos outscored the Badgers 30-16 in the second half to come away with the win.
The Badgers built an early 12-4 lead behind two three-pointers and a two-point basket by Spencer Bishop. Kale Rodgers made it 16-6 with a score that capped a 13-2 run for the Badgers.
Union Grove got three pointers from Sam Rampulla and Dylan Mutchie to bite into that lead. Nate Koch scored three the traditional way with a basket and a free throw to cut the Badger lead to 16-15.
The Badgers then went on their own 12-2 run to push the lead up to 28-17. Grant DuMez led the way with seven points during that stretch. Cole Deering made a three-pointer that made it 28-17. Badger led 30-21 at the half.
About four minutes into the second half, Union Grove began its comeback. A 10-2 run made it 34-31. The Broncos got the lead down to three five separate times before finally getting closer. A three-pointer by Koch drew the Broncos within 46-44 and two free throws by Koch tied the game at 46 with just over three minutes to play.
Rampulla and Mutchie each scored to give Union Grove a 50-46 lead with just over a minute to play and the Badgers were forced to start fouling to stop the clock.
The Broncos made just one of six free throws down the stretch, but the Badgers were unable to score and could not take advantage.
DuMez led the Badgers with 19. No one else had more than seven. Koch led the Broncos (4-15, 3-9) with 17.
The Badgers also fell on the road to Westosha Central 65-41 on Feb. 13. The Falcons are currently ranked #5 in the state in Division 2.
The Badgers hung in the game in the first half, trailing just 29-21 at the half. The Falcons (16-1, 10-0) turned it on in the second half outscoring the Badgers 36-20.
Rodgers led the Badgers with 19 but no one else had more than six. The Falcons were led by Jaeden Zackery’s 14. Dylan Anderson added 13.
The Badgers will begin WIAA regional play as the #16 seed at home against #17 seeded Beloit Memorial (3-17) on Feb. 26. The winner will play #1 Madison East (19-1) on Mar. 1. East is ranked #2 in Division 1.
