LANCASTER — With Sierra Brecke, the Southwest Wisconsin Conference’s leading scorer, struggling through a 1 for 11 shooting night, Platteville needed other scoring options last Thursday at Lancaster.
Senior Claire Tashner and sophomore Skye Digman stepped to the forefront to pick up the slack for their sputtering star as the Hillmen used a 14–2 second-half run to pull out a 57–46 victory and remain unbeaten on the season.
The Hillmen improved to 6–0 overall and 3–0 in the SWC, while the host Flying Arrows fell to 5–4, 0–3.
“Lancaster’s size gave us some problems,” said Platteville head coach Brandon Temperly. “Shots that we have normally been finishing were not dropping. Any time you play on the road, it is usually more difficult to get your offense going. However, we were able to make enough plays to earn the victory.”
Tashner finished with a game-high 15 points with four rebounds and two steals. Digman posted a double–double with 14 points and 12 boards.
Senior Allison Woodworth added nine points, including six big points during Platteville’s tide-turning second-half run.
Brecke made a layup in the opening minute of the game, and added a pair of free throws a little later as Platteville jumped out to an 11–3 lead, but she missed her final 10 shots. She finished with eight points and three rebounds against the much taller Arrows.
“Any conference win on the road is a good one, no matter how it is earned,” said Temperly. “The girls showed what it means to be a team by picking each other up and making plays when needed. Sierra was not hitting the shots that she has consistently been making all season but other girls stepped up and made plays. She and her teammates continued to play hard and made no excuses. The girls are unselfish and are more concerned with team success than individual numbers.”
Lancaster took a 33–31 lead with 12:10 left in the game on back-to-back baskets by Megan Mumm.
Tashner made a pair of free throws moments later to tie the game and ignite a Platteville run.
Woodworth hit a 10-foot jumper, then scored on a putback with 10:40 left to make it 37–33.
Brecke made a free throw and Woodworth had another putback after a Tashner steal and missed layup.
After Lancaster’s Kindra Yoose made a pair of free throws to halt Platteville’s run of nine straight points, Tashner buried a three-pointer from the win and Digman scored on a putback with 7 minutes left to make it 45–35.
Lancaster got as close at 49–44 on a Yoose layup with 2:59 to play, but a three-point play by Tashner made it an eight-point game on the very next trip down court.
Rachel Emendorfer, Lexi Budden and Brecke each made a pair of free throws to help Platteville close out the game.
Senior Alexis Galvin scored 12 points to lead Lancaster. Yoose finished with 10.
Platteville’s six-game winning streak came to an end with a 72–59 non-conference loss to Mineral Point (6–2) Monday night.
Senior Clara Chambers, the SWAL’s leading scorer, poured in 25 points for the Pointers.
Brecke scored 25 to lead Platteville.
The Hillmen (6–1) will return to action Dec. 29 against Mount Horeb in the first round of the two-day Barneveld Tournament.
Platteville 57, Lancaster 46
(from Thursday, Dec. 17 @ Lancaster)
Platteville 23 34 — 58
Lancaster 20 26 — 46
Platteville (6–0, 3–0) — Lexi Budden 5, Brelyn Updike 2, Claire Tashner 15, Rachel Emendorfer 4, Allison Woodworth 9, Sierra Brecke 8, Skye Digman 14. Totals — 19 17-24 58.
Lancaster (5–4, 0–3) — Alexis Galvin 12, Ashton Doll 6, Kennedy Mezera 3, Kindra Yoose 10, Megan Mumm 6, Carly Chadd 6, Devin Wagner 3. Totals — 19 6-14 46.
3-point goals — P: 2 (Tashner 2); L: 3 (Galvin 2). Team fouls — P: , L: . Fouled out — none.
Mineral Point 72, Platteville 59
(from Monday, Dec. 21 @ Platteville)
Mineral Point 37 38 — 72
Platteville 27 32 — 59
Mineral Point (6–2) — Aschliman 1, Blume 1, Bossert 5, Chambers 25, Kruser 4, Qualley 3, Reichling 9, Schmitz 3, Schultz 18, Staver 4, Smith 1. Totals — 28 17-27 59.
Platteville (6–1) — Lexi Budden 4, Brelynn Updike 2, Claire Tashner 10, Rachel Emendorfer 1, Allison Woodworth 2, Sierra Brecke 25, Skye Digman 15. Totals — 19 17-24 58.
3-point goals — MP: 2 (Chambers); P: 2 (Brecke 2). Team fouls — MP: 23, P: 21.
