The Menominee Indian High School girls basketball team remained undefeated Friday, earned a key Central Wisconsin Conference-10 win and advanced to the championship game of the Gresham Booster Club Holiday Tournament with a 49-22 win over Gresham.
Menominee Indian will face Coleman, which beat Oneida Nation 40-20 earlier in the day, in the girls varsity championship game Saturday.
“We did some things that we’ve been working on during Christmas break,” Menominee Indian coach Chris Rice said. “It started to pan out for us. … It’s really all coming together for us right now.”
The Eagles (7-0, 6-0 CWC-10) jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the first quarter. Four of the starting five each hit a couple of baskets.
Menominee Indian clamped down on defense in the second half, allowing only seven points after leading 28-15 at halftime.
The Eagles were led by junior forward Ania Smith, who earned five of her 11 points at the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Autumn Chevalier added 10 points.
Smith and senior forwards Sasha Peters and Joan Waukau used their size advantage in the paint against the smaller Gresham players. Gresham was also having depth issues.
“We had a hard time matching up with the size,” Gresham coach Nick Yaeger said. “We had six girls, one had a bad wrist, we had some sickness going around, it doesn’t help. I wish we had some more bodies. (Menominee Indian) is a good team. They’re undefeated for a reason.”
Sophomore guard Sydney Jensen led Gresham (1-6, 0-6 CWC-10) with a game-high 12 points, eight in the first half.
Rice said he likes the tournament format.
“You’re trying to be the first-place team. You’re trying to compete at a high level,” Rice said. “I think we’re doing it. It’s a good little situation for us here playing teams like Gresham, who is in our conference, and then Coleman, who is in our regional.”
In junior varsity action, Menominee Indian beat Bowler, 28-17, and Coleman beat Menominee Indian C-Team 36-16.
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Menominee Indian (49)
Peters 2 0-0 4, Chevalier 5 0-0 10, Smith 3 5-6 11, Mahkimetas 4 0-0 8, Wynos 2 0-0 5, J. Waukau 4 1-2 9, M. Waukau 1 0-0 2
Gresham (22)
Stehberger 1 0-1 2, Jensen 5 2-2 12, T. Hoffman 0 1-4 1, M. Hoffman 1 1-3 3, Creapeau 1 0-2 2, Arndt 1 0-0 2
Menominee Indian 17 11 10 11 — 49
Gresham 8 7 2 5 — 22
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