LIVINGSTON — Senior forward Sierra Brecke scored 19 of her game-high 26 points in the first half as Platteville raced past host Iowa–Grant 68–41 in a non-conference girls basketball game Monday night.
Brecke, the Southwest Wisconsin Conference’s leading scorer, made a pair of three-pointers and all five of her free throw attempts in the first half as the Hillmen built a 42–16 halftime advantage.
Senior point guard Rachel Emendorfer added 10 points and six assist for the winners and fellow senior Claire Tashner scored all nine of rher points in the first half.
Junior guard Emma Liddiocat scored 14 points to lead the Panthers in defeat.
Platteville improved to 9–2 with the win, while Iowa–Grant fell to 2–7.
Coach Brandon Temperly’s Hillmen will return to action Friday at Prairie du Chien (6–3, 2–1 SWC).
Coach Craig Jenkins’ Panthers will return to action Thursday at Darlington (2–7, 1–3 SWAL). They will host Southwestern (1–7, 0–3) on Tuesday.
Saturday afternoon, Platteville hammered visiting Belle-vue Marquette, 66–39, in a non-conference game at PHS.
Brecke poured in a game-high 20 points, Tashner finished with in 18 and six rebounds, and sophomore Syke Digman added a double–double of 10 points and 10 boards as the Hillmen ran away early.
Last Wednesday, Platteville finished second in the the Barneveld Holiday Tournament.
After a 63–50 victory over Madison East on Tuesday, the Hillmen fell to the host Golden Eagles (8–0), the top-ranked team in Division 5, 56–49 in Wednesday’s championship game.
Temperly’s Hillmen fell behind by as many as 14 points early in the second half, but battled back to make it a one possession game in the final two minutes.
“We had a shot to tie the game with about 1:30 left but missed,” said Temperly. “Barneveld made enough free throws down the stretch to earn the victory. Our girls never gave up and put themselves in a position to have a chance but we just came up short.”
Kelsee Fargo made 3 of 5 from the line in the final minute to put the game away.
Mia Whitish scored 17 of her game-high 20 points in the first half to lead Barneveld. The Eagles played without Nebraska recruit Hannah Whitish (sprained ankle).
Brecke finished with 15 points and six rebounds, despite being in foul trouble most of the night, to lead Platteville. Digman added nine points and 13 rebounds in the loss.
Barneveld Holiday Tournament Semifinal
Platteville 63, Madison East 50
(from Tuesday, Dec. 29 @ Barneveld)
Platteville 32 31 — 63
Madison East 21 29 — 50
Platteville (7–1) — Lexi Budden 5, Brelynn Updike 3, Claire Tashner 17, Rachel Emendorfer 6, Makayla Loeffelholz 2, Sierra Brecke 24, Skye Digman 6. Totals — 25 10-20 63.
Madison East (2–7) — Cornon 9, Larson 5, Kruser 2, Howard 2, Filip 18, Robinson 2, Hayes 2, Conners 8. Totals — 19 8-21 50.
3-point goals — P: 3 (Tashner 1, Emendorfer 1, Brecke 1); ME: 4 (Dornon 1, Filip 2, Conners 1). Team fouls — P: 23, ME: 20. Fouled out — ME: Conners.
Barneveld Holiday Tournament Final
Barneveld 56, Platteville 49
(from Wednesday, Dec. 30 @ Barneveld)
Platteville 21 28 — 49
Barneveld 32 25 — 56
Platteville (7–2) — Lexi Budden 6, Claire Tashner 7, Rachel Emendorfer 6, Sami Brookens 3, Allison Woodworth 3, Sierra Brecke 15, Skye Digman 9. Totals — 15 16-28 49.
Barneveld (8–0) — Fargo 7, Walker 2, Skaife 2, Dickarts 16, Mia Whitish 20, Schave 9. Totals — 19 13-28 56.
3-point goals — P: 3 (Emendorfer 1, Brookens 1, Brecke 1); B: 4 (Fargo 1, Dickarts 2, Schave 1). Team fouls — P: 23, B: 22. Fouled out — P: Tashner.
Platteville 66, Bellevue Marquette 39
(from Saturday, Jan. 2 @ Platteville)
Bellevue Marquette 20 19 — 39
Platteville 38 28 — 66
Bellevue Marquette (5–3) — Kourtney Kirby 2, Taylor Banowetz 2, Annika Frank 4, Ashley Koos 2, McKenna Michels 5, Teona Richman 6, Brittany Moore 18. Totals — 19 3-10 39.
Platteville (8–2) — Lexi Budden 4, Brelynn Updike 4, Claire Tashner 18, Sami Brookens 2, Allison Woodworth 4, Sierra Brecke 20, Skye Digman 10. Totals — 29 5-10 66.
3-point goals — BM: 0; P: 3 (Tashner 1, Brecke 2). Team fouls — BM: 10, P: 15. Fouled out — none.
Platteville 68, Iowa–Grant 41
(from Monday, Jan. 4 @ Livingston)
Platteville 42 26 — 68
Iowa–Grant 16 25 — 41
Platteville (9–2) — Brelynn Updike 2, Claire Tashner 9, Rachel Emendorfer 10, Sami Brookens 2, Makayla Loeffelholz 8, Allison Woodworth 4, Sierra Brecke 26, Skye Digman 7. Totals — 27 8-10 68.
Iowa–Grant (2–7) — Maddie Harmening 2, Taylor Liddicoat 6, Kassidy Schroeder 1, Kaelyn Merkle 1, Kristin Bingham 4, Hailey roth 7, Emma Liddicoat 14, Jessica Pluemer 3, Haley Yelinek 3. Totals — 13 10-23 41.
3-point goals — P: 5 (T. Liddicoat 2, E. Liddicoat 1, Pluemer 1, Yelinek 1); IG: 6 (Emendorfer 2, Loeffelholz 2, Brecke 2). Team fouls — P: 18, IG: 9. Fouled out — none.