MINERAL POINT — The Platteville girls’ basketball team is quickly becoming a dominant force in Southwest Wisconsin.
Friday night, coach Brandon Temperly’s Hillmen pounded host River Valley 59–34 to improve to 2–0 in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference.
Monday night, Platteville scored its biggest win of the year, with a 66–65 overtime victory at defending WIAA Division 4 state champion Mineral Point. The win snapped the Pointers’ (5–1) 30-game winning streak.
Junior Hanna Langmeier made 1 of 2 free throws with 50 second left in regulation to tie the game at 61–61. After the teams traded turnovers, Point missed a contested shot in the final seconds, but Platteville’s Sami Martin grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 0.5 seconds left on the clock. Unfortunately for the Hillmen, Martin missed both free throws and the game went to overtime.
Platteville (5–1) scored first in the extra session when junior Skye Digman converted in the post after a great pass from freshman Josie Nies.
The Hillmen got a stop and Martin made 1 of 2 from the line to make it a three-point game. Mineral Point senior point guard Sydney Staver was fouled on the next possession and made both free throws.
After empty possessions for each team, Digman drove the lane and scored to make it 66–63. Staver was fouled again during a loose ball and again made both free throws to make the score 66–65 with 55.5 seconds remaining.
Platteville’s Brelynn Updike was fouled with 28 seconds left, but missed both free throws setting up the final sequence of the game.
The Pointers were forced to call a time out with under three seconds left. They ran a play to Staver and she got a good look at the basket but missed at the buzzer.
“This is a great win for our program,” said Temperly. “I am very proud of the effort the girls put in for this game. We would have liked to make more free throws so the game wasn’t such a nailbiter but this is the second overtime win this season and that will help us in tight situations later in the season.”
Martin finished with a game-high 24 points and 14 rebounds. Digman had a double–double of her own with 20 points and 10 boards. Nies overcame a rough shooting night by contributing five points, six rebounds and four assists.
“This was a team victory in every sense,” added Temperly. “Our team prepared well in practice and all members of the team contributed significantly. There are always improvements to be made but I am very happy for our team after a hard fought win. The senior girls were very excited by the victory as they told me this is the first time they have defeated Mineral Point from the time the started playing basketball.”
Platteville returns to action Friday at Prairie du Chien (1–5, 0–2). The Blackhawks ended Platteville’s successful 2015–16 season a year ago in the D3 sectional semifinals.
Platteville 59, River Valley 34
(from Friday, Dec. 9 @ Spring Green)
Platteville 25 34 — 59
River Valley 12 22 — 34
Platteville (5–1, 2–0) — Josie Nies 7, Brelynn Updike 10, Rachel Bailie 3, Makayla Loeffelholz 5, Becca Hoyer 3, Hanna Langmeier 4, Sami Martin 12, Izzy Carroll 6, Sami Knockel 2, Skye Digman 6. Totals — 25-70 2-9 59.
River Valley (1–4, 0–2) — Carmen Hood 6, Alyssa Esser 3, Taylor Briehl 12, Taylor Eberle 2, Emily Briehl 2, Ashley Alloway 3, Riley Feiner 6. Totals – 13 6-9 34.
3-point goals — P: 7 (Nies 1, Updike 2, Bailie 1, Loeffelholz 1, Carroll 2); RV: 2 (T. Briehl 1, Alloway 1). Total fouls — P 15, RV 7. Fouled out — none.
Platteville 66, Mineral Point 65 (OT)
(from Monday, Dec. 12 @ Mineral Point)
Platteville 33 28 5 — 66
Mineral Point 34 27 4 — 65
Platteville (6–1) — Josie Nies 5, Rachel Bailie 5, Sami Brookens 4, Becca Hoyer 4, Hanna Langmeier 3, Sami Martin 24, Izzy Carroll 3, Skye Digman 20. Totals — 23-62 17-32 66.
Mineral Point (5–1) — Reichling 8, Bossert 4, Staver 22, Kurser 12, Chubb 2, Aschliman 13, Johnson 4. Totals – 25 15-21 65.
3-point goals — P: 3 (Bailie 1, Carroll 1, Digman 1); MP: 0. Total fouls — P: 21; MP: 25. Fouled out — MP: Reichling.
