A big first-half lead and the quick hands of junior Sara Hokenstad helped the Shawano Community High School girls basketball team get its first win of the season Tuesday against visiting Marinette.
After building a 33-17 lead in the first half, the Hawks (1-5, 1-3 Bay Conference) allowed Marinette to climb back in the game with a big fourth quarter.
The Marines (0-6, 0-3 Bay) managed to pull to within two, 43-41, with 4 seconds left. Shawano managed to inbound the ball and get off a few passes before Hokenstad grabbed a contested ball with 0.03 seconds left, taking a hit to the right eye in the process.
Hokenstad, a 5-foot-7 guard, went to the free-throw line, where she made the first attempt and missed the second, denying Marinette a desperation 3-pointer.
“For the program, we’ve got to learn how to win,” Shawano coach Ryan Koenig said. “That was evident. That first half, that’s how we can play. We can play that way the whole game. The girls have to believe in that.”
The first half was a nearly dominant performance for Shawano. Junior guard Megan Klitzke scored eight of her team-high 10 points in the first quarter. Junior guard Teagan Monfils had four of her five rebounds in the first quarter and all six of her points in the first half.
“(Megan Klitzke) did a great job driving to the basket and getting some fouls,” Koenig said. “Teagan on the boards, for the smallest player out there, she was very active. That’s what we can learn from it. It’s just about heart. Whoever has the bigger heart is going to get the rebound.”
Senior guard Courtney Ainsworth made a pair of 3-point baskets in the second quarter.
On the other end, Shawano’s defense was tough to score on. Up 8-7 in the first quarter, Shawano went on a 13-3 run to secure a lead big enough to last the rest of the game.
Junior forward Erika Dunnam led the Hawks with seven rebounds.
Only four players scored for the Marines, but all reached double figures. Cassandra Hilbert had a game-high 11 points while Alexandria Cording, Teya Lambie and Kierstin Metzner added 10 points each.
Koenig hopes the win will do a lot for his team’s confidence after starting the season with five straight losses.
“Now I think they believe,” Koenig said. “We needed a first half like that, where things go good. Shooting has been an issue. The last couple of games it’s been better. …
“The belief is the biggest thing right now. We have to get the girls to believe that every time they step on the court we can win.”
“The first win, that’s out of the way,” Koenig said. “Hopefully we can move forward and get some more.”
Marinette (41)
Cording 4 2-6 10, Lambie 4 1-2 10, Hilbert 4 2-3 11, Metzner 4 2-2 10
Shawano (44)
Monfils 3 0-0 6, Megan Klitzke 4 2-2 10, Boda 1 0-2 2, Hokenstad 2 2-4 4, Dunnam 1 0-0 2, Vomastic 2 1-2 6, Ainsworth 2 1-4 7, Young 1 0-0 2, Morgan Klitzke 1 0-0 2
Marinette 7 10 7 17 — 41
Shawano 16 17 5 6 — 44
story created on Tuesday 12/16/2014 at 10:02:34 pm by Gerrard Diaz
story modified on Tuesday 12/16/2014 at 10:40:57 pm by Lee Pulaski
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