River Ridge/Scales Mound Wins
Border Battle
Border Battle
Wildcat girls defeat Potosi (Wisc.) 56-50 to improve to 10-2 on the year ...
By Cody Cutter
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Publisher
SCALES MOUND (Dec. 29) – More than a week after winning the Pearl City
Tournament, the River Ridge/Scales Mound Wildcats went up against the best
team they've faced so far this year.
Their tilt with defending Wisconsin Division 4 runner-up Potosi on Tuesday night
was their first game since the Tournament. With holiday rust aside, the Wildcats
pulled away from a close game in the fourth quarter to secure a 56-50 win over the
Chieftains at the Hornet's Nest.
Defense was the theme of most of the game, with no lead greater than four points
for most of the game since a 6-2 Wildcat lead in the first quarter. Both teams were
looking for a getaway, and Nikki DuBord helped provide that for the Wildcats (10-
2). With her team trailing 37-36 with four seconds left in the third quarter, DuBord
caught a Whitney Kieffer pass in the backcourt and scrambled a bit before nailing
a desperation three-pointer as time expired. The Wildcats entered the fourth
quarter with a two-point lead over the Chieftains (2-2), and the momentum going
their way.
River Ridge/Scales Mound extended their lead to seven points five minutes into
the final quarter. They were able to break though Potosi's pressure and spread
the points around.
“We stepped it up on defense and started rebounding better, which is something
that we haven't really been doing previously,” said Brooke Wheelwright, who had
nine points for the Wildcats. “That helped out a lot.”
Kieffer scored the first bucket of the quarter for a four-point lead, and subsequent
buckets by Erin Brashaw, Wheelwright and Kieffer again gave the Wildcats a six-
point lead. They also helped in their effort by making free-throws at the right time
courtesy of Courtney Busch and Carlene DeCoster mid-way through.
Meanwhile the defense held Potosi to just nine points for most of the final quarter,
really responding in a tight situation while making several stops.
“We got in the passing lanes more,” said Wildcat coach Brian Wurster about his
team's defense. “We committed more toward stopping their drive to the basket, I
thought they were getting to the basket way too easy. We'd switch, and they'd get
an easy bucket.
“Once we got the lead we spread the floor, and they got their teammates involved.
We're hard to defend. We have very quick athletes.”
Even more free-throws were made in the critical quarter, as Kieffer made three of
four in the final minute to give her team the first double-digit lead of the game.
Even though a win may be a win, Wurster may have wanted a little more of a
spread out game.
“Our 1-3-1 zone was non-existent, so that's probably something we're going to
have to work on,” said Wurster. “I thought our man defense in the second half was
a lot better. That's why we switched up, because we just weren't communicating
tonight. That might be the long layoff.”
Kieffer scored 20 points for the Wildcats, with nine of them coming in the fourth
quarter. She also had a team-high five rebounds. Busch and DeCoster each had
six points.
Potosi was led by Brianna Reising, who scored 20 points and had seven rebounds.
Reba Keene had eight points and five steals for the Chieftains.
“We had a couple of easy looks, a couple of close ones and missed, and they
converted them,” said Potosi coach Brad Bierman. “They got to the line and made
their free throws. In a close possession ballgame, that's going to be the difference.
They have a nice team. Far and away they're the most talented team we've seen
so far this year.”
The Wildcats will open 2010 with four straight road games: at East Dubuque,
Galena, Stockton and Warren for Northwest Upstate Illini Conference play. The
Wildcats are going into the new year on a positive note and will continue their goal
by ...
“Basically just playing harder, win, and hopefully make it past Regionals,” said
Kieffer. “Take it one game at a time.”
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat, and writes columns
about Illinois high school sports. He can be reached at
Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com.
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Publisher
SCALES MOUND (Dec. 29) – More than a week after winning the Pearl City
Tournament, the River Ridge/Scales Mound Wildcats went up against the best
team they've faced so far this year.
Their tilt with defending Wisconsin Division 4 runner-up Potosi on Tuesday night
was their first game since the Tournament. With holiday rust aside, the Wildcats
pulled away from a close game in the fourth quarter to secure a 56-50 win over the
Chieftains at the Hornet's Nest.
Defense was the theme of most of the game, with no lead greater than four points
for most of the game since a 6-2 Wildcat lead in the first quarter. Both teams were
looking for a getaway, and Nikki DuBord helped provide that for the Wildcats (10-
2). With her team trailing 37-36 with four seconds left in the third quarter, DuBord
caught a Whitney Kieffer pass in the backcourt and scrambled a bit before nailing
a desperation three-pointer as time expired. The Wildcats entered the fourth
quarter with a two-point lead over the Chieftains (2-2), and the momentum going
their way.
River Ridge/Scales Mound extended their lead to seven points five minutes into
the final quarter. They were able to break though Potosi's pressure and spread
the points around.
“We stepped it up on defense and started rebounding better, which is something
that we haven't really been doing previously,” said Brooke Wheelwright, who had
nine points for the Wildcats. “That helped out a lot.”
Kieffer scored the first bucket of the quarter for a four-point lead, and subsequent
buckets by Erin Brashaw, Wheelwright and Kieffer again gave the Wildcats a six-
point lead. They also helped in their effort by making free-throws at the right time
courtesy of Courtney Busch and Carlene DeCoster mid-way through.
Meanwhile the defense held Potosi to just nine points for most of the final quarter,
really responding in a tight situation while making several stops.
“We got in the passing lanes more,” said Wildcat coach Brian Wurster about his
team's defense. “We committed more toward stopping their drive to the basket, I
thought they were getting to the basket way too easy. We'd switch, and they'd get
an easy bucket.
“Once we got the lead we spread the floor, and they got their teammates involved.
We're hard to defend. We have very quick athletes.”
Even more free-throws were made in the critical quarter, as Kieffer made three of
four in the final minute to give her team the first double-digit lead of the game.
Even though a win may be a win, Wurster may have wanted a little more of a
spread out game.
“Our 1-3-1 zone was non-existent, so that's probably something we're going to
have to work on,” said Wurster. “I thought our man defense in the second half was
a lot better. That's why we switched up, because we just weren't communicating
tonight. That might be the long layoff.”
Kieffer scored 20 points for the Wildcats, with nine of them coming in the fourth
quarter. She also had a team-high five rebounds. Busch and DeCoster each had
six points.
Potosi was led by Brianna Reising, who scored 20 points and had seven rebounds.
Reba Keene had eight points and five steals for the Chieftains.
“We had a couple of easy looks, a couple of close ones and missed, and they
converted them,” said Potosi coach Brad Bierman. “They got to the line and made
their free throws. In a close possession ballgame, that's going to be the difference.
They have a nice team. Far and away they're the most talented team we've seen
so far this year.”
The Wildcats will open 2010 with four straight road games: at East Dubuque,
Galena, Stockton and Warren for Northwest Upstate Illini Conference play. The
Wildcats are going into the new year on a positive note and will continue their goal
by ...
“Basically just playing harder, win, and hopefully make it past Regionals,” said
Kieffer. “Take it one game at a time.”
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat, and writes columns
about Illinois high school sports. He can be reached at
Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com.
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