BELMONT - Big-game players step up in big-time games. In last Thursday’s Six Rivers Western Conference showdown between Potosi and Belmont two of the league’s best did just that.
     Belmont’s Kailee Kamps, the league’s two-time leading scorer, played her usual magnificent all-around game totaling a team-high 19 points, eight bounds, four steals and three assists. But all that wasn’t quite enough to overcome an even more outstanding performance by Potosi senior Ashley Flesch.
     Potosi’s senior guard poured in a game-and-season-high 31 points, including eight in the second overtime, as the Chieftains knocked off the first-place Braves on their home court in a wild 76-66 double overtime victory.
     With the win Potosi improved to 9-4 overall and 3-1 in league play. Belmont fell to 12-2, 4-1.
     Having already lost its first meeting with the Braves (62-51 on Dec. 15) Potosi had to even the regular season series to stay in the hunt for a share of this year’s conference title.
     “It was basically do or die for us,” said Potosi head coach Brad Bierman. “To lose to Belmont again would have put us two down, and I think it’s pretty much over after that in this league. The girls knew this was a must-win for us.”
     The Braves (4-1 Six Rivers West) jumped out to a quick eight-point, 18-10, lead behind the hot early shooting and 10 first-quarter points from senior Molly Bockhop.
     Flesch then began cutting through Belmont’s interior defense using the dribble setting up open shots for her teammates.
     “We took a lot of outside shots during our first game against them,” added Bierman. “We wanted to spread the ball out and drive to the lane. Ashley did an outstanding job of getting to the basket and finding the open girl.”
     In addition to a handful of assists, Flesch was able to get loose for 13 first-half points of her own as the Chieftains trailed by just two at the half, 28-26.
     Potosi took its first lead of the game on a Rylie Bausch free throw with 6:06 remaining in the third quarter. The Chieftains led by as many as six early in the fourth quarter before Kamps and the Braves came roaring back.
     Kamps, who went 11-of-12 from the free throw line in the game, made 6-of-6 in the fourth quarter to lead Belmont’s rally.
     A pair of Kamps free throws gave the Braves a four-point lead with 58 seconds left in regulation, but Potosi answered.
Flesch found a wide-open Meleah Mumm under the basket with 1.7 seconds left forcing overtime at 54-54.
     The teams traded baskets in the first overtime, and a Kamps layup in heavy traffic with nine seconds left tied the game and sent it to a second overtime.
     From their Flesch took over, scoring eight of Potosi’s 14 points in the second OT as the Chieftains were finally able to pull away.
     Flesch finished with 31 points and nine rebounds for the winners. Mumm added nine points and 10 rebounds, while Tiffany Langmeier chipped in seven points and nine boards. Bridget Curtis also scored nine points for the Chieftains.
     Bockhop finished with 17 points, four assists and four steals for the Braves. Cassie McCarthy scored 12 points and Keegan Kamps had added five points and a team-high 12 rebounds in the loss.
     “The whole game was a very intense game and it could have went either way,” said Belmont head coach Kaleen McGettigan. “Credit to both teams for battling and giving it everything they had. It was a tough loss but we were able to learn from that loss and now we are moving on with what we have learned.
“The girls bounced back nicely, but the physical play led to some tired legs and bodies. After our fourth game in eight days tonight, we will be able to have a little break and get refreshed.”
Potosi moves into a first-place tie
     Monday night followed up its victory over Belmont with an easy 70-55 over host Benton/Shullsburg.
     Five Chieftains scored in double figures led by senior Maleah Mumm’s game-high 13 points. Tiffany Langmeier and Haley Flesch scored 12 points each, Abby Ames had 11 and Ashley Flesch added 10.
     Potosi improved to 10-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play and moved into a first-place tie with the Braves. The Zephyr-Miners fell to 7-7, 1-3.
Belmont falls to 13-3 with loss at Min. Point
     Belmont fell to 13-3 overall with a one-point, 38-37 loss to the Pointers this past Monday night. Hannah Lawinger scored 16 points to pace the victors. Kailee Kamps led the Braves with 15 points.
Braves hammer host Boscobel, 54-35
     Last Tuesday Belmont pulled away for a 54-35 non-conference win at Boscobel by outscoring the host Bulldogs 28-11 in the second half.
     Kailee Kamps scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, all on the offensive end, and passed out six assists. Molly Bockhop also scored a game-high 14 points and had five assists.
Bockhop’s 17 points led Belmont past Pecatonica
     On Saturday, Molly Bockhop scored a game-high 17 points as Belmont doubled up visiting Pecatonica 51-25 in a non-conference victory at Belmont High School.
     The Braves outscored the Vikings 13-0 in the third quarter.
     Keegan Kamps grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds in the win, while McCarthy added four points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists.

Potosi 76, Belmont 66, 2 OT
(from Thursday, Jan. 26 @ Belmont)
Potosi    10    16    13    15    8    14      -  76
Belmont    18    10    9    17    8    4      -  66
Potosi (9-4, 4-1) - Ashley Flesch 31, Haley Flesch 4, Maleah Mumm 9, Rylie Bausch 3, Bridget Curtis 9, Kylie Meier 6, Abby Ames 7, Tiffany Langmeier 7. Totals - 27 18-28 66.
Belmont (12-2, 3-1) - Molly Bockhop 17, Keegan Kamps 5, Amanda Adams 5, Cassie McCarthy 12, Kailee Kamps 19, Jordyn Kamps 8. Totals - 21 19-22 66.
3 point goals - P: 4 (Mumm, Curtis, A. Flesch, Ames); B: 5 (Bockhop 3, Keegan Kamps, McCarthy). Team fouls - P: 19, B: 21. Fouled out - B: McCarthy.

Potosi 70,
Benton/Shullsburg 55
(from Monday, Jan. 30 @ Benton)
Potosi    12    19    22    17     -  70
Benton/Shulls.    13    6    17    19     -   55
Potosi (10-4, 4-1) - Ashley Flesch 10, Haley Flesch 12, Maleah Mumm 13, Rylie Bausch 4, Bridget Curtis 5, Kylie Meier 2, Abby Ames 11, Tiffany Langmeier 12. Totals - 70.
Benton/Shullsburg (7-7, 1-3) - Droessler 6, Lutes 9, Redfearn 9, Blackbourn 11, Roberts 2, Morrissey 2, Neis 5. Totals - 55.
3 point goals - P: Ames 2; B/S: Lutes, Neis. Team fouls - P: 22, B/S: 22. Fouled out - P: Bausch.

Belmont 54, Boscobel 35
(from Tuesday, Jan. 24 @ Boscobel)
Belmont    11    15    13    15    -  54
Boscobel.    11    13    8    3    -  35
Belmont (12-1) - Ali Linneman 2, Molly Bockhop 14, Keegan Kamps 6, Amanda Adams 6, Cassie McCarthy 12, Kailee Kamps 14. Totals - 18 11-21 54.
Boscobel (5-9) - Glasbrenner 2, Wilcox 5, Bocbel 2, Cabrera 5, Folyey 2, Esters 5, Wagner 6, Krogen 6, Mullikin 2. Totals - 13 6-15 35.
3-point goals - Bel: ?; Bos: ?. Team fouls - Bel: 16; Bos: 16. Fouled out - none.

Belmont 51, Pecatonica 25
(from Saturday, Jan. 28 @ Belmont)
Pecatonica    8    3    0    14    -  25
Belmont    12    10    13    16    -  51
Pecatonica (3-12) - Fargo 12, Johnson 2, Marion 1, Britt 10. Totals - 7 9-16 25.
Belmont (13-2) - Ali Linneman 4, Molly Bockhop 17, Keegan Kamps 3, Amanda Adamss 7, Cassie McCarthy 4, Kailee Kamps 9, Kalyn Kamps 4, Jordyn Kamps 3. Totals - 20 5-14 51.
3-point goals - P: 2 (Fargo 2); B: 4 (Bockhop 3, Kamps 1). Team fouls - P: 9; B: 13. Fouled out - none.

Mineral Point 38, Belmont 37
(from Monday, Jan. 30 @ Mineral Point)
Belmont    5    6    11    15    -  37
Mineral Point    3    11    8    16    -  38
Belmont (13-3) - Ali Linneman 3, Molly Bockhop 6, Keegan Kamps 6, Amanda Adams 4, Kailee Kamps 15, Jordyn Kamps 3. Totals - 15 5-8 37.
Mineral Point (7-8) - Lawinger 16, Qualley 4, Mitchell 6, Gonine 10, Wainwright 2. Totals - 11 14-22 38.
3-point goals - B: 2 (Kailee Kamps 2); MP: 2 (Lawinger 2). Team fouls - B: 19; MP: 12. Fouled out - none.