PLATTEVILLE – It’s been four years and 41 days since a Cassville varsity girls’ basketball team has beaten a Six Rivers West conference opponent, but all that changed last Saturday in Platteville.
Coach Martin Kirschbaum’s lady Comets broke a 44-game conference losing streak on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, by beating Potosi, 46-42.
“Our ladies played a total game, from start to finish, and it is a nice step forward,” said coach Kirschbaum. “It was a total team victory.”
“I’m very proud of our girls and how they have worked and come together as a team,” Kirschbaum added.
The last time a Cassville girls’ basketball team won a conference game was on Dec. 7, 2010, when the Comets defeated Benton, 59-28.
Trailing Potosi, 10-8 after one quarter of play, the Comets outscored the Chieftains, 17-9, in the second quarter, to take a 25-19 halftime lead.
In the second quarter, Cassville junior Andrea Okey led the Comets’ attack with eight points and the respect of her opponents.
“She always wants the ball and is always moving to get herself open to create shots for herself,” said Potosi coach Mallory Mau of Okey.
“Cassville was feeling it, and they hit almost all of their shots to take momentum,” Mau added.
The Comets led, 36-26, to begin the fourth quarter, but then Potosi picked things up defensively and began chipping away at the deficit.
“We picked up our intensity and got a lot of quick steals to give us some quick shots,” said Mau. “We turned them over about six times to give us some really good energy.”
The Chieftains pulled to within three points with under 30 seconds to play, but were then forced to foul.
Okey closed out the game by making 6-of-8 attempts from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, while Potosi made just 1-of-8 free throw attempts in the entire game.
Okey finished the night with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Kennedy McMillan added eight points and 11 rebounds, along with four blocked shots.
Maddie Nix and Ally Clauer each added seven points for the Comets.
As a team, Cassville made 17-of-38 (45%) field goal attempts, including 4-of-10 (40%) from 3-point range. and was 8-of-16 (50%) from the free throw line.
Freshman Abby Kaiser led the Chieftains with 17 points, six steals and four rebounds, while Calie Gibson added 13 points and Brooke McKillip nine.
Missing Saturday’s game was Potosi junior Maddie Hawes, who sat out with a concussion, and is expected to return to the lineup this Friday night against Belmont.
With the win, Cassville improved to 1-4 in the Six River West conference standings, while Potosi fell to 0-5 with the loss.
In non-conference action this past Monday night, the Comets suffered a 42-32 loss to host Seneca, while the Chieftains were handed a 61-47 loss by visiting Monticello.
This Thursday night, Cassville (1-4, 4-8) will travel to Highland (2-2. 8-3), while the Chieftains (0-5, 4-8) head to Belmont (4-0, 12-2).
Cassville 46, Potosi 42
(from Saturday, Jan. 17, at UW-Platteville)
Potosi 10 9 7 16 - 42
Cassville 8 17 11 10 - 46
Potosi - Taryn Stappert 2, Abby Kaiser 17, Taylor Bloyer 1, Brooke McKillip 9, Calie Gibson 13. 10 1-8 42.
Cassville - Maddie Nix 7, Ally Clauer 7, Payton Brinkman 4, Destiny Cederquist 2, Andrea Okey 18, Kennedy McMillan 8. Totals -
3-point goals - P: Kaiser 1, McKillip 3, Gibson 3; C: . Team fouls - P 14, C . Fouled out - None.
