GIRLS BASKETBALL: Panthers take another nail-biter

WilmotLarge-webSpeedy guards, senior leaders help the cause

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

In another close girls basketball contest, Wilmot Union High School overcame a three-point halftime deficit to defeat visiting Racine Park 52-50 on Nov. 22, when they outscored Park 33-28 in the second half.

The two-point victory comes after Wilmot edged host Waukesha South 52-51 to open the season Nov. 18.

According to Wilmot coach Keiya Square, cutting turnovers and strengthening team bonds, noting several newcomers, are crucial to the team’s success.

Against Racine Park, Wilmot committed 25 turnovers, mostly when the team was in defensive transition.

“We continue to work on the turnovers, we want to play fast and make plays out of our defense and right now that is leading to some turnovers,” Square said. “We have a young team, and it was expected for us to turn it over, it will come down to if we are learning from our mistakes.”

In addition to learning from mistakes, team cohesiveness, including shot selection, is another component to the Panthers’ season.

“Right now the girls are still figuring out each other and what each players strengths and weakness are on the floor,” he said. “I think we have a really good shooting team and our shooting percentage will get better as the season goes on.”

While the newcomers are finding their way, including 5-2 sophomore guards Riley Alexander and Haley Lamberson, the Panthers continue to rely on seniors Devin Coleman and Delaney Sjong.

Coleman, a 5-6 guard, scored a team-leading 11 points, after shooting 2 for 4 from three-point range and making 3 of 5 free throws.

Additionally, the 5-10 Sjong collected a team-leading eight boards and scored eight points while 5-11 junior forward Morgan Zenon pitched in 10 points along with four steals and seven rebounds.

Zenon converted all four of her free throws.

While Coleman and Sjong have sat atop the leading scorers, Square noted their leadership extends beyond the basket.

“We expect them to be our leaders on the court. It just so happens so far it has been in scoring but they both bring more to the table than that,” said Square. “Delaney is a good rebounder and post defender and Devin does a great job running the team as the coach on the floor.”

Alexander, meanwhile, scored six points, shooting 3 for 7 in field goal range while collecting two steals and snagged four rebounds.

Square opted to start Alexander, who is in her first varsity season, in the team’s first two games after demonstrating consistency in early season practices.

“We felt that Riley had the most consistent couple of weeks of practices leading up to our first two games so she got the start along with our other four kids, but that can always change and our kids know that,” he said.

Lamberson, however, came off the bench to produce a team-leading five assists and committed no turnovers.

“Haley is a competitor, she gives us another point guard-type player behind Coleman and (McKenna) Stanek, she is good on the ball defensively and does a good job of protecting the ball and getting us into offense,” said Square, noting the sophomore came back with more confidence after she was summoned to varsity late last year.

While Coleman and Stanek offer senior leadership from the guard position, Square noted the two sophomores’ quickness are crucial, noting the team is often undersized in the backcourt.

“We are shorter than we have been in the past at the guard position, but they are all quick and instinctive on defense which can make it hard on other teams to take advantage of the size difference,” he said. “(Riley) is getting more comfortable everyday with what we are doing…and we feel both her and Haley are only going to get better.”

Wynter Townsend led Racine Park with 17 points.


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