Pre-halftime rally put game out of reach for opponents
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
If the Big Foot girls basketball team hopes to make some noise this season in the Rock Valley Conference, a good place to start was Tuesday’s opener at Parkview.
Mission accomplished.
Big Foot bounced back from a loss last week to Madison East with 56-46 home win over the Vikings to improve to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the RVC.
Putting the setback to East in its season debut behind it was key Tuesday, Big Foot coach Rick Schoenbeck said.
“The team wants to win and be successful,” he said. “Conference wins are huge and we want to build on that one with a tough group of conference games coming up.
“We are a young team, and the girls know it is different playing on the road.”
Three of the four quarters Tuesday were relatively even – with the exception of the second.
And that was the difference, as Big Foot outscored Parkview 15-7 to take control.
“After giving up some easy baskets in the first quarter, we adjusted to what they were doing and shut down easy attempts,” Schoenbeck said. “They went to shooting outside, and we rebounded and ran the transition game well.”
Big Foot fell behind 18-16 after the first quarter before it rallied prior to halftime. Parkview only could cut one point off the deficit the last two quarters as the Chiefs put the game out of reach.
Kathryn Colby had a double-double for Big Foot, as she had 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way.
“(Rebounding) is an area she has worked on improving,” Schoenbeck said. “As we have played a couple games, her role has changed from last year as the team settles in with a different mix of girls.”
Other leaders included Payton Courier with 13 points and five rebounds, Courtney Schoenbeck with 13 points and four steals, Olivia Briggs with seven rebounds and Carly Snudden with six rebounds.
Big Foot now prepares for a matchup next Tuesday with Brodhead, a WIAA state qualifier last year. The Chiefs host the Cardinals at 7:15 p.m., followed by a road contest at Jefferson next Friday night.
