POTOSI — Another standout performance by senior Abby Kaiser and a gritty team defensive effort on Shullsburg standout Brianna Leahy led the Potosi girls to a 58–49 victory over the defending Six Rivers West champion Miners in Friday’s conference opener for both teams.
Kaiser poured in a game-high 27 points on 9 of 15 shooting and had seven rebounds, six assists and three of Potosi’s 15 steals.
Coach Brad Bierman’s Chieftains grabbed an early 14–6 lead behind a hot start from junior Amber Udelhoven, who scored six of her 11 points in the first eight minutes.
Potosi (3–0, 1–0 SRW) extended the lead to 18–8 on back-to-back layups by senior Sophie Langkamp and Kaiser and never trailed the rest of the night.
Shullsburg (2–1, 0–1) tied the game at 23–23 with 4:48 left in the half on a free throw by Leahy, but the Chieftains outscored the Miners 10–5 the rest of the half to build a 33–28 lead.
Shullsburg trimmed the lead to three at 41–38 with 10:45 left in the game on back-to-back baskets by Leahy, but Potosi held the 2016 SRW Player of the Year to just one point the rest of the night.
Langkamp buried a 3-point on the following possession, then Kaiser made a pair of free throws and scored on a spinning drive to the hoop to make it 48–39 with 9:27 to play.
Potosi made 10 of 15 from the line over the final 8:30 to close out the win.
Langkamp finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Udelhoven had five steals to go with her 11 points before fouling out and junior Brittany Horner added seven points and three boards.
Leahy finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for Shullsburg.
Potosi improved to 3–0 on the season with a 60–48 non-conference win over Lancaster Monday night. Kaiser had 29 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the win.
NEXT: The Chieftains will now travel to Belmont Thursday night before traveling to Black Hawk on Monday.
Potosi 58, Shullsburg 49
(from Friday, Dec. 1)
Shullsburg 28 21 - 49
Potosi 33 25 - 58
Shullsburg - Ubersox 8, Cook 6, Klotz 2, Russell 3, Spillane 1, Leahy 21, Alt 8. Totals - 17 9-24 49.
Potosi - Abby Kaiser 27, Brittany Horner 7, Amber Udelhoven 11, Sophie Langkamp 12, Hannah Udelhoven 1. Totals - 21 14-22 58.
3-point goals - S: Ubersox 2, Cook 2, Russell 1, Leahy 1; P: A. Udelhoven 1, Langkamp 1. Team fouls - S 17, P 24. Fouled out - Ubersox (S), A. Udelhoven (P).