Falcons defeat Waterford
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Westosha Central High School capitalized on a flurry of Waterford fouls to snap a four-game girls basketball losing streak Jan. 6.
The Falcons, who overcame an 11-point first half deficit, went on a 13-1 run to take a 21-20 lead entering halftime and eventually came away with a 44-35 Southern Lakes Conference win.
“They battled and really maintained it through the second half and I am proud of them,” said Falcons’ coach Ben Michelau, whose team improved to 4-8 (2-3 SLC).
In the second half, Westosha Central pushed three Wolverines into foul trouble, including 5-foot-8 senior forward Emma King, 5-6 freshman guard Katie Rohner, and 5-8 senior guard Kayla Brandenburg, who eventually fouled out with 50 seconds left of regulation.
Rohner, who had four personal fouls, finished with a game-high 15 points.
Waterford committed 26 personal fouls, putting the Falcons on the free throw line, where they converted 19 of 39 shots.
“We tell the girls, we got to get to the rim and get to the foul line,” said Michelau. “Tonight, we were 19 of 39, we usually shoot a lot better than that, but it was still a lot.”
Following the first half, with the Falcons clinging to a 1-point lead, 5-7 senior guard Katrina Bostanche opened the second half with a bucket, followed by a 5-10 sophomore forward Siera Sieberth free throw to give Westosha Central a 24-20 edge.
Sieberth finished with a team-leading 11 points and collected eight rebounds while Bostanche pulled down 10 rebounds and had eight points.
Waterford, however, knotted the contest with baskets from Rohner and 5-8 senior guard Athena Zuehlke to pull it even at 24-24.
Then, Falcons’ 5-2 senior guard Katie Boarini drew a personal foul, converting one of two free throws to give Westosha Central a 25-24 lead, before the rest of her squad finished off the Wolverines.
“Our energy stayed up and we fed off each other,” said Boarini.
Falcons’ 5-9 senior forward Anna Leigh Niles, who took four Wolverine fouls, scored five of her eight points from the free throw line in the second half.
One of her free throws came at 2:47, when Waterford coach Dena Brechtl received a technical foul while Falcons’ 5-4 senior guard Lindsey Kimpler was on the free throw line, where she converted one of two shots.
After Kimpler made her free throw attempts, Niles stepped in and gave the Falcons a 38-29 lead.
Niles hopes the conference victory is a turning point for the season.
“We were finally able to come together, I feel likes we have been struggling as a unit, but tonight we were able to connect on some passes and shots,” said Niles.
Westosha Central 5-7 junior guard Stephanie Dopuch, who had four rebounds and a team-leading three steals, finished with eight points.
Dopuch contributed six of her eight points in the 13-1 first half run.
Waterford, which committed 17 turnovers, dropped to 5-5 (3-2 SLC) following the loss.