MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Jan. 13–20)
SWC GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lancaster 70, Platteville 63, OT
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal / Fennimore Times / Boscobel Dial
Flying Arrows nip Hillmen in OT in SWC battle for first place
LANCASTER — Platteville came all the way back from a 15-point deficit to take a two-point lead with seven minutes left in regulation.
But in the end, freshman Lexi Olmstead and the host Lancaster Flying Arrows withstood Platteville’s comeback punch and pulled out a key 70–63 overtime win to get a leg up in the race for this year’s Southwest Wisconsin Conference title.
The Hillmen shared last year’s SWC title with Prairie du Chien, while Lancaster hasn’t won a conference title since 2006.
Olmstead scored seven of her game-high 28 points in Lancaster’s opening run and five of the Arrows’ 14 point in overtime to lead the home team to victory.
Olmstead’s quickness and length at the top of Lancaster’s 1–3–1 trapping defense flustered Platteville early as the Arrows raced out to 15–0 lead just over six minutes into the game. Lancaster’s pressure defense led to 18 steals and 30 Platteville turnovers in the game.
“Obviously we did not like the way we started but I am very proud of the girls for their grit and determination to turn things around,” said Platteville head coach Brandon Temperly. “Lancaster deserves a lot of credit for their start. Our girls communicated well in the huddles and got things going in a much better direction as the first half went on. It took a lot of energy to fight back but we were within striking distance by halftime.”
Platteville ended Lancaster’s opening run on a putback by junior Rianna Dye with 11:33 left in the half.
Platteville then closed the half on a 12–5 run the final six minutes of the first half to pull within 28–24 on a 3-pointer by sophomore Soraeya Stone.
“We started to be more confident with the ball and hit a few shots that got momentum back in our favor,” said Temperly. “The turnovers to start the game shot us in the foot. But, once we settled in and took care of the ball, things got better quickly.”
Lancaster scored the first four points of the second to extend the lead to eight at 32–24, but junior Avery Richard drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it a five-point game with 16:12 left to play.
The triple gave Richard exactly 1,000 career points. Richard became the sixth Plattevile girl to reach the 1,000-point milestone, joining PHS all-time leading scorer Sami Martin (1,571 points, class of 2021), 1993 graduate Nikki (Taggart) Collen (1,381), 2023 grad Camryn Nies (1,282), 2021 grad Josie Nies (1,100) and 2001 grad Kimberly Becker.
All five of Platteville’s previous 1,000-point scorers went on to play college basketball with Martin at Division 1 Bradley, then D3 Loras College, Taggart at D1 Purdue and later Marqutte, Camryn Nies currently at D3 UW–Whitewater, Josie Nies at UW–Stevens Point, and Becker at D1 UW–Milwaukee.
“Avery reaching 1,000 career points is an incredible accomplishment,” said Temperly. “ This year is the 50th anniversary of the WIAA girls basketball state tournament and in that time, we now have six 1,000 point scorers in our program’s history. Avery has worked really hard to become the player that she is and she continues to get better. It was great to see Avery and her teammates share this accomplishment as a group.”
Lancaster’ lead continued to ebb and flow before Platteville freshman Kinley Bendorf hit a pair of 3-pointers to aid the Platteville comeback and the Hillmen tied the game at 47–47 on another 3-pointer by Richard from the top of the key with 8 minutes left.
Richard then assisted on a go-ahead jumper by senior Maggie Grabandt on Platteville’s next possession to give the Hillmen their first lead of the game.
Lancaster answered with a quick 6–0 run — with Olmstead scoring four of the points — to give the home team a 53–49 lead with 5:05 left.
Sophomore Quinn Temperly and Richard each split a pair of free throws two minutes later, and after a free throw by Lancaster junior Addison Morgan, Richard sliced through the defense for a layup to pull the Hillmen within a point at 54–53 with 22.8 seconds left.
Following a quick Platteville timeout, the Hillmen fouled Olmstead on the inbound play and sent the fab freshmen to the line for a 1-and-1 bonus situation.
Olmstead missed her first attempt, but Platteville was called for a lane violation. The Lancaster freshman took advantage of the second chance and made two straight free throws to extend the lead to 56–53.
But Richard found Bendorf open in the left corner, and the freshman knocked down her fifth 3-pointer of the game with 7 seconds left to tie the game.
After a Platteville timeout, Lancaster sophomore Brooklyn Crubel’s last second 3-pointer pointer from the top of the key missed the mark, sending the game to overtime.
After turnovers by both teams to open the overtime, Lancaster took a 59–56 lead on a 3-point play by Olmstead.
Platteville answered with another clutch 3-pointer by Bendorf on the ensuing possession, but Maddie Burr hit a jumper and Olmstead made a pair of free throws to give the Arrows a 63–59 with 2:21 left.
Sophomore Maddie Driscoll pushed the lead to 66–60 on a 3-pointer a minute later, then after a 3-pointer by Stone, Driscoll made 2 of 4 at the free throw line.
After a missed 3-pointer by Platteville, Morgan made two free throws with 14.8 seconds left to account for the final score.
“This was a great high school basketball game,” said Temperly. “The environment was fantastic, the students were engaged, and the quality of play from both teams was at a very high level. Unfortunately, someone has to lose but the fans were treated to a very good high school girls basketball game. Our team will learn a lot from a game like this and will be ready for the rematch at the end of the regular season.”
Platteville (13–3, 4–1 SWC) will host Lancaster (13–1, 5–0) in the final game of the regular season on Feb. 19.
Olmstead finished the game with 28 points, 16 rebounds, seven steals and two assists to lead the Flying Arrows, while Driscoll added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Morgan chipped in 15 points and three assists.
Bendorf scored a career-high 18 points and made 6 of 8 3-point attempts in 21 minutes off the bench to lead the Hillmen.
“Kinley Bendorf had a great game and shot the ball incredibly well,” added Temperly. “She is a very confident kid and was ready for the shot. Her teammates got her the ball in a position for success and she knocked down a big 3 for the team. Kinley has a very bright future.”
Richard finished with 15 points, six assists and two steals, while Dye chipped in 12 points and 14 rebounds. Stone tallied 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Lancaster 70, Platteville 63, OT
(from Friday, Jan 16 @ Lancaster)
Platteville......24 32 7 — 63
Lancaseter.....28 28 14 — 70
Platteville (13–3, 4–1) — Soraeya Stone 10, Kinley Bendorf 18, Maggie Grabandt 2, Avery Richard 15, Quinn Temperly 1, Laylaa Schuler 4, Rianna Dye 13. Totals — 19 12-23 63.
Lancaster (13–1, 5–0) — Maddie Driscoll 15, Lexi Olmstead 28, Brooklyn Crubel 4, Kylie Olmstead 4, Maddie Burr 4, Addison Morgan 15. Totals — 24 14-21 70.
3-pointers — P: 13 (Stone 3, Bendorf 6, Richard 3, Schuler 1); L: 5 (Driscoll 2, L. Olmstead 1, Morgan 2). Team Fouls — P: 18, L: 15. Fouled out — P: Temperly; L: K. Olmstead.
