PLATTEVILLE — The Platteville girls basketball team authored the most surprising final score of the first month of the season Friday night.
The Hillmen held preseason Southwest Wisconsin Conference favorite Dodgeville to just seven second-half points and ran away with a dominating 66–37 victory over the previously undefeated Dodgers, who were ranked sixth in the Division 3.
Senior forward Sierra Brecke poured in a game-high 26 points on 10 of 15 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds to spur the rout.
Senior guard Claire Tashner added 16 points, five rebounds and two steals, while senior guard Rachel Emendorfer had six points, four steals and a team-high seven assists.
Sophomore forward Skye Digman chipped in seven points and eight rebounds, and senior forward Allison Woodworth pulled down a team-best 10 boards.
Platteville improved to 5–0 overall and 2–0 in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference, while Dodgeville fell to 4–1, 1–1.
“The girls put together a very good game,” said first-year Platteville head coach Brandon Temperly. “We were able to clamp down on the defensive end and that got everything else rolling. We have smart girls that respond well to the adjustments we make and are able to adjust on their own as well. To hold a team that talented scoreless for the final 15 minutes is a great team accomplishment. Our crowd also deserves some credit. They showed up in numbers and were loud and supportive of our team. The girls really enjoyed that atmosphere.”
Dodgeville held an early 13–9 lead five minutes into a game on a three-point play by Hannah Jones, but the rest of the game was all Platteville.
Emendorfer swished a three-pointer from the wing 20 seconds later to ignite a 13–0 Hillmen run. Brecke scored back-to-back layups to push the lead to 10 at 26–16 with eight minutes left in the first half.
Emendorfer drilled another three-pointer, Tashner connected on a pair of free throws and Makayla Loeffelholz made a three-pointer all in the final three minutes of the game as Platteville went to the locker room up 39–30.
Brecke and the Hillmen continued to pour it on in the second half. She scored in the post in the opening minute then nailed a three-pointer two minutes later to make it 46–34.
Jones answered with a triple for Dodgeville to make it 48–37 with 15:56 remaining, but the visiting Dodgers would not score again.
Brecke’s layup with 14:04 left sparked Platteville’s 18–0 closing run. Digman made a three-pointer and Tashner scored six points in a two-minute stretch.
Dodgeville standout Kara Crowley fouled out with 4:54 to play with just seven points. Jones led the Dodgers with 15 points, but just three after halftime and shot just 3 of 15 from the field in the game.
“It takes all five girls on the floor working together to play great defense,” said Temperly of Platteville’s dominating second half. “The girls communicated well and stayed solid on defense. Claire Tashner did a phenomenal job on Crowley and Rachel Emendorfer locked up Jones in the second half. But again, it takes a team effort to play the way we did.”
Last Tuesday, Brecke scored a game-high 25 points and had six rebounds, while Digman had a near double–double of 15 points and nine boards as Platteville scored a 66–51 non-conference win over Darlington.
Emendorfer had seven points, seven steals and six assists.
“I’m pleased with the way the girls are working together,” said Temperly. “No one cares who gets the credit, they just want success. Defensively, we still need to improve our rebounding, but our first shot defense has been solid. Offensively, the girls are starting to find the openings within the offense and we have done a nice job controlling the tempo of the game.”
Platteville will look to keep its hot start going when they travel to Lancaster Thursday night. The Hillmen will host Mineral Point on Monday night.
Platteville 66, Darlington 51
(from Tuesday, Dec. 8 @ Darlington)
Platteville 33 33 — 66
Darlington 21 30 — 51
Platteville (4–0) — Lexi Budden 5, Claire Tashner 8, Rachel Emendorfer 7, Sami Brookens 2, Allison Woodworth 3, Sierra Brecke 25, Skye Digman 15. Totals — 20 19-36 66.
Darlington (1–4) — Golackson 7, McDaniel 7, Crist 8, T. Rankin 9, Jacobson 14, K. Rankin 6. Totals — 18 13-20 51.
3-point goals — P: 4 (Tashner 2, Brecke 2); D: 2 (Golackson 1, K. Rankin 1). Team fouls — P: 17, D: 25. Fouled out — D: Golackson.
Platteville 66, Dodgeville 37
(from Friday, Dec. 11 @ Platteville)
Dodgeville 30 7 — 37
Platteville 39 27 — 66
Dodgeville (4–1, 1–1) — Stumpf 4, Jones 15, Crowley 7, Cushman 7, Pluemer 4. Totals — 13 9-11 37.
Platteville (5–0, 2–0) — Lexi Budden 5, Brelyn Updike 2, Claire Tashner 16, Rachel Emendorfer 6, Makayla Loeffelholz 3, Allison Woodworth 1, Sierra Brecke 26, Skye Digman 7. Totals — 23 14-21 66.
3-point goals — D: 2 (Jones 1, Crowley 1); P: 6 (Tashner 1, Emendorfer 2, Loeffelholz 1, Brecke 1, Digman 1). Team fouls — D: 17, P: 13. Fouled out — D: Crowley.
