The fourth quarter made all the difference for the Oconto Falls High School girls basketball team Friday as it hosted West De Pere.
After heading into halftime down 28-21, the Panthers charged back in the third period, outscoring West De Pere 18-9 to take a two-point lead entering the final period. The Phantoms, however, handed OFHS its second Bay Conference loss of the season with a 17-9 scoring edge down the stretch for a 54-48 victory.
Junior guard/forward Madison Helmle, who scored a career-high 12 points, said a halftime pep talk by Panthers coach Mike Kaczmarek Jr. ignited the third quarter rally.
“He kept telling us we are doing good, we just have to look for more opportunities to score, and I think everyone on the team took that as ‘We all need to step up a little,’” said Helmle, whose previous high was eight points in a 76-44 victory Jan. 31 at Marinette.
Helmle said playing against West De Pere (4-1, 2-1 Bay) was a difficult task.
“West De Pere is a really good team, and I think we started off kind of slow,” she said. “But after awhile we got used to playing together more.”
Oconto Falls (2-3, 1-2 Bay) had difficulty containing Phantoms freshman Brehna Evans, who scored 15 points.
“We did not really pull through defensively,” Helmle said. “We just couldn’t shut them down toward the end, and none of our shots were falling through.”
Like Helmle, junior forward Jennifer Krueger also scored a career-high with 13 points. She also led the Panthers with 11 rebounds and contributed four steals.
Senior guard Elizabeth Manns scored 11 points. She has been in double figures all five games this season.
Oconto Falls will face the Phantoms again Jan. 27, and Helme said the Panthers will be better prepared for success.
“Our team chemistry keeps getting better and better,” she said.
West De Pere (54)
Denis 13, Edinger 7, Carriveau 2, Evans 15, VanVonderen 9, Stefaniak 6.
Oconto Falls (48)
Helmle 12, Manns 11, Wolf 7, Virtues 5, Krueger 13
West De Pere 18 10 9 17 54
Oconto Falls 10 11 18 9 48
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