SHULLSBURG – With back-to-back wins on back-to-back nights, Shullsburg secured its spot atop the Six Rivers West girls’ basketball standings.
    The #4-ranked Lady Miners (9-2 overall, 5-0 SRW) rolled to a 66-23 victory at Highland on Thursday, Jan. 12, and then routed River Ridge, 57-33, at home on Friday, Jan. 13, to remain alone in first-place in the West.
    “It was a great simulation for what we hope to experience in the playoffs. Our players came out on Thursday and took care of business early so we could get players rest and compete at a very high level on back to back nights,” said Shullsburg head coach Nathan Russell.
    The Miners got off to a fast start against the Cardinals (3-6, 0-5) and built up a 44-17 advantage by the halftime break. The offense slowed down a bit in the second half netting 22 points over the final 18 minutes of play, but the defense remained stout holding host Highland to just six points in the period.
    “I am proud of our ladies for coming out and playing at a high level. Our defensive intensity was there from the start and it only improved as the game went along. Our players did a great job of being unselfish on offense leading to easy opportunities throughout the night,” Russell noted.
    Senior guard Cora Holland led the Miners with 18 points and three steals. Fellow senior Hattie Rennert contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists, while junior Brianna Leahy tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots for Shullsburg.
    Senior McKailah Strang added eight points and eight assists, and junior Kindle Cook scored a season-high seven points and had three steals.
    The Miners returned to action a little over 24 hours later when they hosted the Timberwolves (9-2, 2-2) in a key SRW contest, and they continued to rule both ends of the court en route to their fourth straight victory.
    The T’Wolves came into the night riding a six-game winning streak of their own, but they could do little to slow down the Miners, who jump out to a 27-11 halftime lead.
    The Wolves tried to chip away at the Miners’ advantage in the second half, but the hosts hit their free throws when they counted to pull away for the victory.
    “River Ridge is a very talented team that had won a lot of games coming into the game. We knew that they were going to be a difficult out,” commented Russell. “The play of our defense and our offensive rebounding were really keys for us. Additionally, our free throw shooting helped us thwart any run they tried to mount in the second half.”
    Leahy registered a double-double scoring a game-high 22 points and pulling down 14 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots and two steals to pace the Miners.
    Rennert recorded 18 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocks on the night, while Strang followed with eight points and four assists and junior Faith Ubersox added six points.
    Taylor Langmeier led the T’Wolves with 13 points, and Skylar White chipped in with nine points for the guests.
    Shullsburg was set to put their #4 state ranking on the line against the #5-ranked and unbeaten Black Hawk Warriors in South Wayne on Monday, Jan. 16. However, their showdown was called off due to Monday’s ice storm and the team’s were unable to find a suitable make-up date, so it will not be rescheduled this season.
    Both Shullsburg and Black Hawk had a key conference contest postponed due to winter weather on Tuesday, Jan. 10. The Miners’ home game against Benton has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 21, with the junior varsity game starting at 6 p.m. followed by the varsity game.
    Shullsburg also has a make-up non-conference game at Galena on Thursday, Jan. 19, and the Miners return home to host Belmont in SRW action on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
    The Warriors will make-up a Six Rivers East game at Argyle on Saturday, Jan. 28, beginning at 7 p.m. Due to the make-up game, the Warriors had to cancel their game against Randolph originally scheduled for Jan. 28 at the JustAgame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells. That game will not be made up this season.   
    Black Hawk also has upcoming SRE games at home against Juda on Thursday, Jan. 19, and at Barneveld on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The Warriors also have a make-up non-conference game scheduled at Platteville on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 5 p.m.
 
Shullsburg………. 44    22 – 66
Highland…………. 17      6 – 23
    Shullsburg – Faith Ubersox 4, Kindle Cook 7, McKailah Strang 8, Hattie Rennert 11, Reva Spillane 2, Nicole Teutschmann 5, Brianna Leahy 10, Cora Holland 18. Totals – 27  4-8  66.
    Highland – Mueller 2, Pustina 2, J. Kosharek 12, Ma. Drury 7. Totals – 9  3-4  23.
    3-point goals– S 8 (Strang 2, Hattie Rennert 3, Teutschmann 1, Holland 2), H 2 (J. Kosharek 2). Total fouls– S 4, H 6. Fouled out– none.

River Ridge……… 11    22 – 33
Shullsburg………. 27    30 – 57
    River Ridge– White 9, Langmeier 13, Herrick 4, Sturmer 7. Totals – 10  12-15  33.
    Shullsburg – Faith Ubersox 6, McKailah Strang 8, Hattie Rennert 18, Brianna Leahy 22, Cora Holland 3. Totals – 19  15-19  57.
    3-point goals– RR 1 (White 1), S 4 (Strang 1, Rennert 3). Total fouls– RR 15, S 11. Fouled out– none.