This very well could be the year that Platteville wins its first conference title in girls basketball.
     The Hillmen took a major step toward that lofty yet very achievable goal Thursday night, ending a 12-year, 23-game losing streak to Richland Center with a convincing 59–49 victory over the Hornets.
     According to Platteville assistant coach Mark Ludlum, the last Hillmen victory over Richland Center came during the 2001 season.
     “We were obviously pleased with the win,” said Hillmen head coach Wayne Jentz. “Hopefully this is a stepping stone. It’s always important to clear a hurdle that we haven’t before.”
     Richland Center (4–10, 3–2 SWC) used a 7–0 run midway through the first quarter to take an 11–7 lead.
     But Platteville (13–2, 4–1) stormed back with a 9–0 run of its own, highlighted by seven straight points from senior Julia Lawinger. Her post up basket with 19 seconds left in the opening quarter gave the Hillmen a 16–11 lead.
     The second quarter went back and forth until the Horents grabbed a 26–22 lead on back-to-back baskets from junior Leigh Drury. Center held a 29–27 lead at halftime.
     Platteville opened the second half on a 9–3 run and closed the third quarter with a Lawinger 3-pointer and a jumper by senior Elisa Bilderback that just beat the buzzer to take a six-point, 43–37, lead.
     Bilderback stayed hot, scoring six of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, including a key breakaway layup with 1:58 remaining that made it 57–45. She also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in the win.
     “We challenged [Elisa] at halftime to get on the boards and become more active on offense and she responded,” said Jentz. “She really stepped up in the second half and created scoring opportunities for herself and openings for teammates because of her aggressiveness.”
     Richland Center cut Platteville’s lead to four with 4:46 remaining on a pair of free throws by senior Emily Schauf.
Then it was time for Platteville sophomore Cassie Hamer to step to the forefront.
     She scored on a driving right handed layup on Platteville’s ensuing possession then found a wide-open Ashley Budden, who promptly drained huge 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 52–43.
     Budden then returned the favor assisting on a Hamer jumper from the right corner with 2:53 to play.
     “Cassie has been a real key for us this season,” added Jentz. “She is starting to look for her outside shot more and she is keeping her head up and looking for open teammates when she drives. She made a lot of keep plays down the stretch to help us win Thursday night.”
     Hamer finished with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Lawinger had 12 points — nine in the first half — seven rebounds and four assists.
     Monday night Lawinger scored 11 points to lead three players in double figures as Platteville scored a 44–37 non-conference victory over Mineral Point, the 13th Hillmen win of the season.
     Last Tuesday Bilderback had 19 points and six rebounds, and Lawinger had a double–double of 15 points and 12 rebounds in a 65–23 victory over Galena.
     Platteville will return to action Friday at River Valley.

Platteville 59, Richland Center 49
(from Thursday, Jan. 17 @ Platteville)
Richland Center    13    16      8    12     —  49
Platteville              16    11    16    16     —  59
Richland Center (4–10, 3–2) — Wilson 5, Campbell 2, Ewing 9, Drury 10, Schauf 19, Gunderson 2, Meeker 2. Totals — 18 13-19 49.
Platteville (12–2, 4–1) — Taylor Triphan 6, Stephanie Philipps 3, Elisa Bilderback 19, Cassie Hamer 14, Ashley Budden 5, Julia Lawinger 12. Totals — 25 7-13 59.
3-point goals — RC: 2 (Wilson 1, Schauf 1); P: 2 (Budden 1, Lawinger 1). Team fouls — RC: 14, P: 17. Fouled out — RC: Drury.

Platteville 44,  Mineral Point 37
(from Monday, Jan. 21 @ Mineral Point)
Platteville        16   11     4    13     —  44
Mineral Point    7    9    10    11     —  37
Platteville (13–2) — Taylor Triphan 2, Stephanie Philipps 10, Elisa Bilderback 10, Cassie Hamer 7, Ashley Budden 4, Julia Lawinger 11. Totals — 22 4-12 44.
Mineral Point (8–5) — Qualley 6, Mitchell 11, Wainwright 2, Chambers 13, Schultz 5. Totals — 15 9-12 37.
3-point goals — P: 4 (Philipps 1, Lawinger 3); MP: 2 (Mitchell 1, Chambers 1). Team fouls — P: 14, MP: 12. Fouled out — none.

Platteville 65, Galena 23
(from Tuesday, Jan. 15 @ Platteville)
Galena           9     6      6       2     —  23
Platteville    20    20    13    12     —  65
Galena — Bautsch 4, Decker 2, Miles 2, Salgado 9, Sitzman 4, Sinagra 2. Totals — 10 3-6 23.
Platteville (11–2) — Taylor Triphan 8, Stephanie Philipps 6, Bailey Christman 2, Elisa Bilderback 19, Cassie Hamer 13, Ashley Budden 2, Julia Lawinger 15. Totals — 26 12-27 65.
3-point goals — G: 0; P: 1 (Lawinger 1). Team fouls — G: 18, P: 6. Fouled out — none.