By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
MCDONALD'S GAME OF THE WEEK (Girls Basketball): Cuba City 67, Southwestern 61 (OT)
Cuba City girls top Southwestern in overtime
Cuba City girls basketball
The Cuba City girls prevailed over neighboring rival Southwestern 67–61 in overtime during Saturday's SWAL matchup.

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Jan. 6–13)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Cuba City 67, Southwestern 61 (OT)

HAZEL GREEN — Cuba City rallied from eight points down in the final 40 seconds of regulation to force overtime, and then rallied again from down four early in OT to top the Southwestern Wildcats, 67-61, in a thrilling SWAL girls’ basketball game held at SHS on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Sophomore Grace Cummins buried a clutch 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds remaining in regulation to deadlock the score at 56 all, and then knocked down the go-ahead basket with 1:45 to go in OT to put the Cubans (7-5 overall, 5-2 SWAL) ahead of the Wildcats (2-8, 1-5) to stay.

“With such a young team, we never quite know what we are going to get from night to night. It was nice to see them keep competing and believing in each other. We talked in a timeout about how we came back against Boscobel and that we could do that if we believed in each other. The kids stepped up and made big plays in big moments. Alison Daugherty, Maddison Carl and Grace all hit big shots and the team played great defense,” said Cuba City head coach Brad Lutes.

Freshman Aliana Splinter scored six straight points to spark an 8-0 that put Southwestern ahead 46-40, but the Cubans fought back to even the score at 46 all.

Junior Hannah Lacey put the Wildcats back into the lead with a 3-pointer and a layup, and then junior Alaina Ramaker extended the lead to 56-48 with a pair of free throws with 2:21 to play.

The Cubans held the ‘Cats scoreless the rest of regulation, forcing three turnovers over the final 40 seconds to fuel the comeback.

“The kids understand that in order to be successful in situations like that, it takes defensive stops,” Lutes remarked.

A basket by senior point guard Bailey Lutes and a trey by Carl got the Cubans back within a basket, and then Cummins tied the game at 56 all on her clutch 3. The ‘Cats got off an off-balanced 30-foot desperation heave at the buzzer, but the shot was well off the mark leading to overtime.

Baskets by junior Kinsey Droessler and Lacey put Southwestern up 60-56 with 2:20 to play in the extra session, however the Cubans answered back once again with 3 by Carl and a basket by Cummins to grab a 61-60 lead with 1:45 to go.

Lutes, who scored 14 of her game-high 21 points from the foul line, connected on 6-of-8 free throw attempts in the final minute of play to seal the victory for the Cubans.

Carl finished with 13 points and sophomore Jenna Dailey chipped in with 11 points, while Cummins and A. Daugherty each added eight in the win.

A. Ramaker netted 16 points and Lacey finished with 15 to lead the Wildcats. Senior Mallory Kaiser registered nine points and junior Hannah Brant followed with eight for the hosts.

“We played hard as a team and competed hard. These girls have done a complete 180 the last couple of games. It is fun to see them improve each and every game,” said Southwestern coach Matt Digman.

Sophomore Grace Cummins buried a clutch 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds remaining in regulation to deadlock the score at 56 all, and then knocked down the go-ahead basket with 1:45 to go in OT to put the Cubans (7-5 overall, 5-2 SWAL) ahead of the Wildcats (2-8, 1-5) to stay.

“With such a young team, we never quite know what we are going to get from night to night. It was nice to see them keep competing and believing in each other. We talked in a timeout about how we came back against Boscobel and that we could do that if we believed in each other. The kids stepped up and made big plays in big moments. Alison Daugherty, Maddison Carl and Grace all hit big shots and the team played great defense,” said Cuba City head coach Brad Lutes.

Freshman Aliana Splinter scored six straight points to spark an 8-0 that put Southwestern ahead 46-40, but the Cubans fought back to even the score at 46 all.

Junior Hannah Lacey put the Wildcats back into the lead with a 3-pointer and a layup, and then junior Alaina Ramaker extended the lead to 56-48 with a pair of free throws with 2:21 to play.

The Cubans held the ‘Cats scoreless the rest of regulation, forcing three turnovers over the final 40 seconds to fuel the comeback.

“The kids understand that in order to be successful in situations like that, it takes defensive stops,” Lutes remarked.

A basket by senior point guard Bailey Lutes and a trey by Carl got the Cubans back within a basket, and then Cummins tied the game at 56 all on her clutch 3. The ‘Cats got off an off-balanced 30-foot desperation heave at the buzzer, but the shot was well off the mark leading to overtime.

Baskets by junior Kinsey Droessler and Lacey put Southwestern up 60-56 with 2:20 to play in the extra session, however the Cubans answered back once again with 3 by Carl and a basket by Cummins to grab a 61-60 lead with 1:45 to go.

Lutes, who scored 14 of her game-high 21 points from the foul line, connected on 6-of-8 free throw attempts in the final minute of play to seal the victory for the Cubans.

Carl finished with 13 points and sophomore Jenna Dailey chipped in with 11 points, while Cummins and A. Daugherty each added eight in the win.

A. Ramaker netted 16 points and Lacey finished with 15 to lead the Wildcats. Senior Mallory Kaiser registered nine points and junior Hannah Brant followed with eight for the hosts.

It was the second time this week and the third time this season the Cubans have triumphed in overtime. At Richland Center, on Tuesday, Jan. 5, Coach Lutes’ squad stung the host Hornets, 6-2, in an extra session to pull out a 47-43 non-conference overtime victory.

Alison Daugherty scored three of her nine points in the OT period to lead the Cubans, while Bailey Lutes led the Cubans with 15 points and Jenna Dailey netted 11 in the win.

Next up, Cuba City has an upcoming SWAL game scheduled at Riverdale on Friday, Jan. 15, while Southwestern stays at home to host Boscobel in SWAL action on Friday, Jan. 15, and then travels to Potosi to face Potosi/Cassville in a varsity-only contest on Monday, Jan. 18, starting at 7 p.m.

 

Cuba City 67, Southwestern 61 (OT)
(from Saturday, Jan. 9 @ Hazel Green)
Cuba City……… 25  31  11 – 67
Southwestern… 22  35    5 – 61
Cuba City– Alison Daugherty 8, Maddison Carl 13, Jenna Dailey 11, Bailey Lutes 21, Grace Cummins 8, Ella McKinley 6. Totals – 22  16-31  67.
Southwestern – Kinsey Droessler 2, Alisa Ramaker 16, Hannah Lacey 15, Deanna Ramaker 2, Lucy Freiburger 2, Natalie Berning 1, Hannah Brant 8, Mallory Kaiser 9, Alana Splinter 6. Totals – 24  8-18  61.
3-point goals– CC 7 (Carl 3, Dailey 1, Lutes 1, Cummins 2), S 5 (A. Ramaker 2, Lacey 1, Brant 2). Total fouls– CC 20, S 28. Fouled out– CC: A. Daugherty; S: A. Ramaker, Freiburger.