SHULLSBURG — Like the first meeting between the two teams in early December, Friday night’s first-place showdown between Potosi and host Shullsburg wasn’t decided until the final minutes.
The Chieftains turned the ball over near half court with 1.8 seconds to play and senior center Brianna Leahy scored at the buzzer to account for the final margin as the host Miners held on for a 55–51 victory avenging a 58–49 loss at Potosi on Dec. 1.
Shullsburg improved to 11–2 and 6–1 in league play to pull into a first place tie in the Six Rivers West with Potosi, that fell to 9–2, 6–1.
“Both teams played well and somebody has to eventually lose the game,” said Potosi head coach Brad Bierman. “We are still in first place and still control our own fate [for the conference title]. Every season has its ups and downs and you have to have a short memory and move on to your next opponent.”
The teams were not separated by more than four points the entire first half in a tight conference battle. A three-point play by senior Abby Kaiser put Potosi up 27–26 with 35.2 seconds left in the half, but the Miners regained a 28–27 lead on a basket by freshman Kayla Klotz with less than 10 seconds remaining.
The Miners extended their lead to as many as nine points at 41–32 with 11 minutes to play.
But Potosi fought back to take a 48–47 lead with 2:45 to play. After back-to-back three-pointers by Justice Udelhofen and Amber Udelhoven, Kaiser knocked down the go-ahead basket.
Shullsburg answered right back with a 3-pointer by senior Nicole Tueutschmann with 1:56 remaining to pull back on top for good. Teutschmann also added two free throws with 25.8 to play to extend the Miners’ lead to 53-49.
A basket by Kaiser brought Potosi back within a basket and Leahy gave the Chieftains a chance to win or tie when she missed the front-end of a bonus opportunity with 4.2 seconds left.
The Chieftains inbounded the ball to Kaiser, who was hounded along the sideline by Shullsburg’s Madison Russell. Kaiser lost control of the ball with 1.8 remaining and it was ruled it went off Kaiser’s knee.
Shullsburg inbounded the ball at halfcourt and tossed up a jumpball to Leahy, who knocked down a layup at the horn for a 55–51 Miner win.
Kaiser finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lead the Chieftains in defeat. Junior Amber Udelhoven added 10 points and three steals. Sophomore Justice Udelhofen finished with seven points and three steals and freshman Lily Post grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for Potosi.
Leahy finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks. Teutschmann scored and Layla Alt 11 points apiece and Klotz and Faith Ubersox scored nine points each for the balanced Miners.
“There wasn’t a lot of difference in this game and the first meeting,” said Bierman. “Both teams played well and they just made a couple more shots than we did.”
The two teams could meet for a third time this year in the WIAA Division 5 playoffs. Potosi and Shullsburg are grouped in the same 16-team half sectional. But first both will have five more SRW games to try and claim a conferenece title.
Last Tuesday, Potosi make quick work of the host Cassville 76–28.
After outscoring Cassville 42–21 in the first half, the Chieftains held the Comets to just seven second-half points to pull away for a 48-point win.
Kaiser finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists to lead three Potosi players in double figures.
Senior forward Sophie Langkamp added 21 points, five assists and two steals, while Hannah Udelhoven made three 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 17 points.
“I thought we defended and rebounded well especially in the second half,” said Bierman. “We took care of the ball, committing only five turnovers for the game, and shot the ball well.”
Monday’s non-conference game with Iowa–Grant was postponed and will be made up at a later date.
NEXT: The Chieftains (10–2, 5–1 SRW) will host Belmont (5–6, 3–3) Thursday night and will then host River Ridge (12–3, 4–3) Tuesday night.
Potosi 76, Cassville 28
(from Tuesday, Jan. 9 @ Cassville)
Potosi 42 34 — 76
Cassville 21 7 — 28
Potosi (9–1, 5–0) — Abby Kaiser 24, Justice Udelhofen 3, Lily Post 2, Amber Udelhoven 4, Sophie Langkamp 21, Shae Siegert 3, Toni Pluemer 2, Hannah Udelhoven 17. Totals — 33 5-7 76.
Cassville (1–10, 0–6) — Anna Kartman 9, Madelyn Nix 7, Samantha Bartels 1, Kasha Vogt 2, Paige Johll 9. Totals – 7 11-16 28.
3-point goals — P: 5 (Langkamp 1, Siegert 1, H. Udelhoven 3), C: 3 (Johll 3). Team fouls — P: 14, C: 8. Fouled out — none.
Shullsburg 55, Potosi 51
(from Friday, Jan. 12 @ Shullsburg)
Potosi 27 24 — 51
Shullsburg 28 27 — 55
Potosi (10–2, 6–1) — Abby Kaiser 18, Justice Udelhofen 7, Lily Post 2, Amber Udelhoven 10, Sophie Langkamp 6, Hannah Udelhoven 8. Totals — 17 11-16 51.
Shullsburg (11–2, 6–1) — Faith Ubersox 9, Kayla Klotz 9, Reva Spillane 2, Nicole Teutschmann 11, Brianna Leahy 12, Layla Alt 11. Totals – 21 7-14 54.
3-point goals — P: 6 (J. Udelhofen 1, A. Udelhoven 2, Langkamp 1, H. Udelhoven 2), S: 6 (Ubersox 3, Teutschmann 3). Team fouls — P: 14, S: 15. Fouled out — none.
