PATCH GROVE — After a pair of losses in the regular season the young Potosi Chieftains turned the tables on Six Rivers West champion River Ridge, bouncing the second-seeded Timberwolves in the second round of the WIAA Division 5 playoffs.
     Sophomore Makenzie Brown scored 18 of her game-high 21 points in the second half to power Potosi to a 42–40 victory Friday night at River Ridge High School.
     The Chieftains survived a tense back-and-fourth quarter, that featured four lead changes, as well as a poor shooting night at the free throw line, and overcame the loss of sophomore point guard Maddie Hawes, who fouled out with just under four minutes left in the game.
     Brown took over point guard duties and put the Chieftains on her back. She scored 11 of Potosi’s 14 points in the fourth quarter to keep Ridge (18–4) at bay. Fellow sophomore Calie Gibson scored the other three.
     In three tournament games Brown averaged 16.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
     “They just couldn’t stop Makenzie from getting to the basket in the second half,” said Potosi coach Brad Bierman.
Brown made 1 of 2 from the line with 20 seconds left to break a 40–40 tie.
     After River Ridge missed a point-blank layup — the Wolves third missed layup of the quarter — with six seconds left Brown made 1 of 2 from the line to provide the final margin. She missed the second and in the scramble to get the rebound and advance the ball, Ridge never got off a final shot.
     “I felt like we were going to compete with them, but its always a tough task to beat them on their court,” said Bierman. “I felt good for the girls that they were able to get the win and have a chance to play in the regional final.”
     Gibson finished Friday’s game with seven points and eight rebounds, and fellow sophomore Taylor Bloyer also chipped in seven points. Hawes scored five points before fouling out.
     Last Tuesday Potosi used a 22–2 third-quarter run to blast 10th-seeded De Soto 52–22.
     Gibson scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds. Hawes also scored 14 points and had five rebounds. Brown posted eight points, eight boards, five assists and five steals.

WIAA Division 5 Regional Quarterfinals
Potosi 52, De Soto 22
(from Tuesday, March 4 @ Potosi)
De Soto.    7    6    2    7     —  22
Potosi.    13    12    22    5     —  52
De Soto (7–14) — E. Boardman 2, Kutcha 3, Buckles 2, N. Boardman 2, Wopat 1, Trusoni 5, Crowley 3, Lagerman 4. Totals — 9 3-11 22.
Potosi (13–9) — Maddie Hawes 14, Taylor Bloyer 2, Paige Brinkman 9, Destinie Droessler 5, Mackenzie Brown 8, Calie Gibson 14. Totals — 20 9-16 52.
3-point goals — D: 1 (Kutcha 1): P: 3 (Hawes 1, Brown 1, Gibson 1). Team fouls — D: 11, P: 14. Fouled out — none.

WIAA Division 5 Regional Semifinals
Potosi 42, River Ridge 40
(from Friday, March 7 @ Patch Grove)
Potosi.    7    8    13    14     —  42
River Ridge    2    13    12    13     —  40
Potosi (14–9) — Maddie Hawes 5, Taylor Bloyer 7, Paige Brinkman 2, Calie Gibson 7, Mackenzie Brown 21. Totals — 12 16-35 42.
River Ridge (18–4) — Myers 7, White 2, Allen 12, Herrick 7, Patterson 10, Bloom 2. Totals — 16 8-17 40.
3-point goals — P: (2 (Hawes 1, Bloyer 1); RR: 0. Team fouls — P: 17, RR: 20. Fouled out — P: Hawes; RR: Zinkle, White.