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Lutes lights up Thunder
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Thomas Gunnell
Published: Jan 26, 2012, 6:23 PM

    SAVANNA, ILL. – Benton/Shullsburg guard Blaire Lutes shot the lights out at the 2012 West Carroll Shootout, connecting on 11 of her 17 shots from the field en route to a career-high 27 points to lead the Zephyr-Miners over the host Thunder, 55-26, in a non-conference girls’ basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 21.
    Lutes connected on 8-of-13 attempts from 2-point range and 3-of-4 shots from beyond the 3-point arc while adding a pair of free throws to single-handedly outscore the Thunder in the game, 27-26.
    The Shullsburg junior also recorded a team-best six steals to go along with three assists and four rebounds to cap a monster day on the hardwood for the Miner-Zephyrs.
    Already leading by five by the end of the opening stanza, Benton/Shullsburg (6-6 overall) started to pull away from West Carroll in the second quarter thanks to a 17-8 run and Coach Nathan Russell’s squad came out and blanked the Thunder in the third quarter, 10-0, to build up a comfortable 39-15 advantage.
    For good measure, the Zephyr-Miners outscored the hosts 16-11 in the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches on their best defensive showing of the year by holding West Carroll to 26 points en route to the 29-point victory.
    Sophomore Sarah Redfearn spearheaded the defensive effort with eight rebounds (six on defense), eight blocked shots and two steals to go along with four points.
    Freshman Jenna Droessler finished with a season-high eight points and added two assists and two steals for B/S, while junior Stephanie Roberts tallied seven points and three assists in the game.  
    At Juda, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, University of North Dakota recruit Ellen Kiser poured in a game-high 21 points to usher the host Panthers past the Benton/Shullsburg co-op, 51-31, in a non-conference meeting.
    Kiser scored eight of her team’s points in the pivotal second quarter which saw the Panthers outscore the Zephyr-Miners by a 15-3 margin to build up a 25-9 halftime lead.
    Coach Nathan Russell’s crew could never make up for their slow start as they were held to a season-low 31-point offensive output by the Panthers (10-3).
    Blaire Lutes led the co-op with 13 points and Sarah Redfearn chipped in with 11 points.
    At Shullsburg, on Friday, Jan. 20, the Zephyr-Miners’ Six Rivers West game against Cassville was postponed due to Friday’s snowstorm. The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
    Benton/Shullsburg hosts River Ridge in SRW game at Benton on Thursday, Jan. 26, and Potosi also at Benton on Monday, Jan. 30, in a make-up SRW game from Jan. 12.

Bent/Shulls…. 12  17  10  16 - 55
West Carroll…   7    8    0  11 - 26
Leading Scorers: Blaire Lutes 27, Jenna Droessler 8, Stephanie Roberts 7, Sarah Redfearn 4, Haley Morrissey 3, Melissa Brant 2, Alyssa Leeser 2, Emma Neis 2.

Bent/Shulls…   6    3  14    8 - 31
Juda….….….. 10  15  14  12 - 51
Leading Scorers: Blaire Lutes 13, Sarah Redfearn 11, Molly Blackbourn 2, Stephanie Roberts 2, Alyssa Leeser 2, Jenna Droessler 1.
Belmont's Kaleen McGettigan notches career win No. 200
Braves blowout Potosi/Cassville in coach's milestone victory
Kaleen McGettigan 200
Belmont girls head coach Kaleen McGettigan earned her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 win over Potosi/Cassville.
Casey Lindecrantz
Published: Dec 13, 2024, 7:23 PM

POTOSI — Belmont girls basketball coach Kaleen McGettigan collected her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 victory over Potosi/Cassville.

The Braves shot out to and maintained an early lead in Six Rivers West win over the host Chieftains (3–2, 0–2 SRW).

Potosi/Cassville claimed the opening point on a free throw, but a basket under the hoop by Morgan Freeman earned the only lead change of the night. The result was a Braves lead where the traveling team earned nearly 30 points before Potosi/Cassville tasted double figures.

“Any time we play a conference team, we know it is going to be a battle,” McGettigan said. “The Chieftains lost one of their starters the night before, but credit tot he team and their staff, they came out ready to play. Coach Nebel has done a nice job in her first month as a head coach.”

The Braves clung to a 37–16 lead at the break, nurturing it as they pushed to double Potosi/Cassville’s output over the final 18 minutes.

“I was pleased with the girls’ offensive attacks,” McGettigan said. “We are a tough team to guard because we are so interchangeable, and we need to take more advantage of that.”

The Belmont front was led by a three-headed monster of Lexi Riechers (18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals), Freeman (14 pts, 6 reb), and Kaci Riechers (12 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl). 

Carsyn Ramaker also took on an supporting role — her six rebounds and five assists were each tied for the team high.

“Lexi Riechers was a spark for us, and she got a couple things going on both ends of the floor,” McGettigan said. “Carsyn continues to see the floor well, and Hailey Bahr played the best game of her career.”

With just three opponents left ahead of the new year, the Braves’ next opportunity on the court comes at Benton on Dec. 12.

Junior Lillie Cooley scored a team-high five points in the loss for Potosi/Cassville (3–2, 0–2) which suffered its first loss.

Despite the win, McGettigan believes her team needs improvements in a few areas.

“We need to do a better job of consistently finishing around the rim,” she said. “We also need to be more comfortable  in our half-court sets.”

The Zephyrs (0–6, 0–2) most recently lost to Stockton (Ill.) on Dec. 9, 68–18, and haven’t scored more than 20 points in each of their last three games.

“We need to continue working on limiting other teams’ offensive boards, and getting to our outlet spots,” McGettigan said. “December is a slow month for us, so we need to stay focused in the gym and need to get better.”

Belmont 56, Potosi/Cassville 25
(from Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ Potosi)
Belmont 37 19 — 56
Potosi/Cassville 16 9 — 25
Belmont (2–1, 1–0) — Hailey Bahr 2, Courtney Fritz 5, Kaci Riechers 12, Morgan Freeman 14, Jaelyn Leitzinger 2, Lexi Riechers 18, Brittany Taylor 3. Totals — 25-71 2-7 56.  
Potosi/Cassville (3–1, 0–1) — Matty Udelhofen 4, Madi Weber 2, Lillie Cooley 5, Brielle Fishnick 4, Ruby Roe 3, Miranda Kieler 4, Delany McKillip 3. Totals — 8-43 8-11 25. 
3-pointers — B: 4-19 (Fritz 1, K. Riechers 2, L. Riechers 1); PC: 1-11 (Roe 1). Team fouls — B: 14; PC: 14. Foul out — none.