With the pressure squarely on home-standing Potosi in Thursday’s rematch with league-leading Benton/Shullsburg, the bigger, stronger Chieftains turned to literally their biggest advantage, size.
Potosi pounded the ball inside on offense and hit glass on both ends of the court claiming a 47–22 rebounding advantage that was clearly the deciding factor in a much-needed 50–42 victory over the previously once-beaten Zephyr–Miners (18–2, 8–1 SRW) in last week’s Valentine’s Day matchup.
Five-foot-eight senior Bridget Curtis posted a monster double–double of 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, and also made 6 of 6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help close out the win.
Five-foot-10 center Tiffany Langmeier added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Chieftains, who improved to 7–1 in the Six Rivers West.
With the win Potosi pulled even with Benton/Shullsburg (18–2, 8–1) in the loss column in the race for this year’s conference title.
“Obviously the pressure was on us because they were going to leave in first place no matter what,” said Potosi head coach Brad Bierman. “We had to get a win to give ourselves a chance [at the conference title].”
Potosi can clinch a share of a second straight conference title with a win in Thursday’s regular season finale against visiting Cassville (1–20, 0–9 SRW).
The Chieftains could earn the title outright if River Ridge (10–10, 4–5) can upset Benton/Shullsburg on the same night.
“We feel good, but we still need to play well Thursday night,” said Bierman. “I think the girls will stay focused.”
Bierman’s Chieftains used an 11–7 second quarter run to enter halftime of Thursday’s win with a 25–21 lead.
A deadlocked third quarter set up a potentially wild finish, but clutch free throw shooting helped Potosi pull away.
After struggling from the line most of the night — the Chieftains missed 21 of their 43 attempts on the night — Potosi finally found the touch in the final three minutes making 9 of 12 from the line to close the game.
Curtis made four straight around the three-minute mark of the final quarter, then Langmeier made a pair to extend the Chieftains’ narrow two-point lead to eight at 45–37 with 2:20 remaining.
Benton senior Blaire Lutes, who finished with a team-high 15 points, made two free throws with 1:50 left to make it 45–39, but that’s as close as the visitors would get the rest of the night.
Curtis made two more from the line with 1:27 left, then got loose for a layup on Potosi’s next possession to make it a 10-point game, 49–39.
Freshman Maddie Hawes made 1 of 2 from the line with 10 seconds left to close out Potosi’s scoring.
Benton/Shullsburg’s Stephanie Roberts hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to account for the final score.
Friday night Potosi moved into a first-place tie with a dominating 60–29 victory at Highland.
The Chieftains held the host Cardinals (4–16, 2–7) to just two point in each of the first two quarters and led 33–4 at halftime.
Senior Abby Ames finished with 16 points, seven steals and three assists, while Langmeier added 11 points and five rebounds.
Freshman Mackenzie Brown chipped in nine points and six rebounds.
Potosi also defeated Highland 52–38 last Tuesday in a makeup game from Dec. 21.
Potosi will open the WIAA Division 5 playoffs Tuesday at home against the number 15 seed Madison Abundant Life Christian (4–16). The Chieftains are the seventh seed in their 16-team half of the Watertown Sectional.
Potosi 52, Highland 38
(from Tuesday, Feb. 12 @ Potosi)
Highland 10 7 11 10 — 38
Potosi 7 12 16 17 — 52
Highland (3–15, 1–6) — Drury 9, Wienkes 13, Dailey 1, Bomkamp 6, Yager 8, Stanek 1. Totals — 13 12-21 38.
Potosi (16–3, 6–1) — Dawn Dines 2, Haley Flesch 8, Maddie Hawes 4, Clara White 8, Paige Brinkman 4, Bridget Curtis 5, Abby Ames 7, Mackenzie Brown 3, Tiffany Langmeier 11. Totals — 15 19-26 52.
3-point goals — H: 0; P: 3 (White 2, Ames 1). Team fouls — H: 21; P: 21. Fouled out — P: Hawes.
Potosi 50, Benton/Shullsburg 42
(from Thursday, Feb. 14 @ Potosi)
Benton/Shulls. 14 7 10 11 — 42
Potosi 14 11 10 15 — 50
Benton/Shullsburg (18–2, 8–1) — Droessler 4, Lutes 15, Redfearn 8, Neis 3, Bastian 2, Roberts 8, Morrissey 2. Totals — 16 6-11 42.
Potosi (17–3, 7–1) — Haley Flesch 1, Maddie Hawes 1, Clara White 4, Bridget Curtis 17, Abby Ames 5, Mackenzie Brown 5, Liz Reuter 2, Tiffany Langmeier 15. Totals — 13 22-42 50.
3-point goals — B/S: 4 (Lutes 1, Neis 1, Roberts 2); P: (White 1, Curtis 1). Team fouls — B/S: 29; P: 16. Fouled out — B/S: Redfearn, Neis.
Potosi 60, Highland 29
(from Friday, Feb. 15 @ Highland)
Potosi 17 16 14 13 — 60
Highland 2 2 15 10 — 29
Potosi (18–3, 8–1) — Dawn Dines 2, Haley Flesch 2, Maddie Hawes 2, Clara White 2, Paige Brinkman 3, Bridget Curtis 8, Destine Droessler 2, Abby Ames 16, Mackenzie Brown 9, Liz Reuter 3, Tiffany Langmeier 11. Totals — 23 13-16 60.
Highland (4–16, 2–7) — Bomkamp 10, Yager 6, Bailey 5, Drury 3, Wienkes 3, Stanek 2. Totals — 8 12-23 29.
3-point goals — H: 1 (Drury 1); P: 1 (Brinkman 1). Team fouls — H: 13; P: 20. Fouled out — none.
Lady Chieftains pull even
Potosi now in a first-place tie after win over Benton/Shullsburg