Suring Bench Steps Up in Win Over STAA

With star forward Christine Sleeter out with an ankle injury and a couple other Suring Eagles out due to illness, different Suring players stepped up in a 54-22 win over Saint Thomas Aquinas Academy on Friday.
MacKenzie Bailey scored 15 points, with 10 in the first half, Emma Kristof got 12 on four 3-pointers, and Emily Peterson scored eight, all in the second half.
Hailey VanRens scored six, while Parker Zahn and Kaylee Otradovec got five each.
“That was really awesome to see. We had several players out with illness today, so it really gave the back end of our bench an opportunity to play a ton of minutes today,” Suring coach Mitch Woulf said. “They got experience, they got to enjoy the gametime, they scored points, and that was a lot of fun.”
Suring took a 12-1 lead out of the gate, with two baskets by Bailey and a 3-pointer from Kristof playing big parts in the run.
The Cavaliers slowed down Suring’s offense a little bit for the rest of the half, keeping things to 22-10 at half.
Suring again came out of the locker room hot, scoring the first 12 points of the half, capped off by a Tessa Losurdo 3-pointer.
“We always start off slow. Our last couple games we start off slow. I don’t know if they’re nervous or what,” STAA coach Cindy Powers said. “Then we get in the swing of things and they get tired, but they don’t give up.”
For STAA, Jenna Maxwell and Brooklynn Rennie scored eight points apiece.
STAA has just seven players listed on its roster with only one senior.
Powers believes that by the time the young Cavalier team gets through one round of conference games, they’ll be much improved.
“We always start slow. We did that in the other three games too. Then they got into a little bit of a rhythm, got a little confidence,” Powers said. “We need a little confidence booster. It’ll come I think. I think when we play all these guys again the second time, I think it’ll be different.”
Woulf said Sleeter would have played if it was later in the season, and he expects her to be back soon.
“With it being early in the season, it was just good to get a little bit of extra rest for her,” Woulf said.
Bulldogs Jump Out to
Big Early Lead
in Win Over Eagles
As the old saying goes, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” But on Friday, it was the start that propelled Peshtigo to a 60-46 win over Southern Door.
Peshtigo took an 8-0 lead out of the gate, with Southern Door first getting in the scoring column on a free throw almost five minutes into the game.
The Bulldogs took an 18-2 lead on two free throws by Brooklyn Phillips with 7:31 to play in the first half, and it took until there was just 5:10 left in the half for the Eagles to score their first field goal, a layup by Allianna Dufek that made it 22-8.
The Eagles would end up going on a 5-1 run to end the first half, but Peshtigo still led 30-18 at the break.
Jaci Tonn restored the 15-point advantage with a 3-pointer to start the second half.
With the score 36-21, Phillips went on an eight-point run by herself to give Peshtigo a 44-23 lead, but the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run of their own to cut the lead down to 12 with 10:36 to play, with Payton Gilbertson scoring six of the points.
The closest the game got was 49-40 on a bucket by Callie Miller, but Peshtigo made seven of 11 free throws down the stretch to close the game out. Seven of the team’s final nine points came at the line.
Bulldogs coach Jeff Sunstrom definitely sees progress in what his team is doing.
“We still have work to do. We’re definitely a work in progress, but we’re getting better and I love my team,” he said. “The main thing is we’re starting to play in control now. We’re actually rotating the ball around the gym instead of possessing it for 10 seconds, so it’s been coming. We’ve got a ways to go, but I love my team and I know we can get there.”
Dufek finished with 15 points to lead the Eagles. Gilbertson had 13, including 10 in the second half.
Phillips’ 19 points led all scorers. She made all six of her free throws and three of four 3-point attempts.
Akira Smalls had 16 points, including a 9-15 night at the free throw line. Jaci Tonn scored nine, and Rylie Ellie finished with six.
Peshtigo scored 23 points from the free throw line on 38 attempts and went 16-46 from the field.
Peters had a team-high 16 rebounds. Smalls’ three assists led the way.
The win was Peshtigo’s first after an 0-3 start to the season. The Bulldogs are now 1-1 in Packerland Conference play.
“Yes, we are 1-3. However, we are 1-1 in the conference. We’re right in it. We can still do some good things here, and we will,” Sunstrom said. “We’re going to get better, we’re going to continue to improve, and [assistant coach] Pete [Villas] and I are going to work through this, because I’ve got a great group of kids.”
Maroons Run Out of
Time In Loss to Patriots
The home Menominee crowd and the Menominee Maroons basketball game rode a roller coaster of emotions in the final seconds of Monday’s matchup with Westwood. In the end, disappointment was the emotion that won out.
With time expiring and the Maroons trailing 58-55, junior guard Anna Axtell elevated for the tying 3-point attempt, shooting through traffic and hitting what would have been the game-tying buzzer beater.
However, the referee ruled that the ball had not left Axtell’s hand before the clock struck zero, and the Patriots won the game.
“We shouldn’t be in that situation. There were a lot of things that transpired throughout the first 31 minutes and 50 seconds that put us in that position,” Menominee coach Lucas Chouinard said. “We had a lot of unforced turnovers, way too many where we just gave them the ball, and we just have to be more disciplined on the offensive side and not give them those free possessions.”
Axtell connected on two 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the game to help Menominee jump out to an 8-0 lead, but by the end of the first quarter, the Patriots had cut it to 13-10 on an and-one bucket by Lexi Olson.
Westwood took its first lead of the game at 17-15 and had a 26-17 advantage at halftime.
Menominee clawed its way back into the game in the third quarter. Axtell hit another pair of triples to cut the game to 32-29. Piper Monroe scored the final bucket of the quarter and Menominee trailed 37-34.
Gianna Coduti scored the first four points of the fourth to give Menominee a 38-37 advantage, and the teams traded buckets late. In the fourth quarter, there were six lead changes and three ties.
Tied at 49, Westwood took the lead for good on a basket by Olson. The Patriots led 54-49.
Menominee’s Kamryn Olson hit a 3-pointer to cut it to two. After a Westwood basket, Axtell hit a big three to make it 56-55, but two free throws gave Westwood the win.
“I’m just proud of our girls for the way we fought for four quarters because despite our tribulations that we had on the offensive end, we still battled defensively and gave ourselves a chance at the end, and that’s all you can ask for,” Chouinard said.
Axtell scored 26 points, making four 3-pointers, including three in the second half. Coduti scored 12, Monroe had six, and Kamryn Olson added five.
Menominee made 10 of 17 free throws in the game, while Westwood cashed in on 21 of 25 attempts from the stripe.
“It was a tale of free throws tonight and they came out winning that way tonight as well,” Choinard said. “That’s late-game situations that we have to be aware of too – who to foul, when to foul, and stuff like that. With us being so young, it’s a great opportunity for growth for us as individual players and as a team. We’ll definitely take this, watch the film, break it down, and then put our best foot forward going against Bark River on Monday.”
Eagles Rally Past
Rangers in Second
Half, Win 51-44
Suring needed a big second half to defeat Wausaukee on Tuesday, Nov. 29, but they got it, helped by a big game from Christine Sleeter.
Wausaukee led 23-20 at halftime, but the Eagles flipped the script and won the second half 31-21.
Sleeter scored 21 points on 9-15 shooting, had eight rebounds, and contributed six blocks.
“Wausaukee made it difficult on Sleeter, but she was able to still record a very solid game,” Suring coach Mitch Woulf said.
Bunny Cramer had 10 points, Birdee Cramer scored nine, and Emma Kristof finished with eight, with six coming on 3-pointers in the first half.
Mackenzie Bailey’s 11 rebounds and five assists both led the Eagles.
“Bailey’s leadership and knowledge of what is going on was huge for our team out there,” Woulf said. “She was huge in boosting up the energy and encouraging players on the court, which is exactly what you want out of a leader.”
Birdee Cramer had 10 rebounds as well.
“Birdee Cramer had a terrific game on the boards and hit some big shots for us early in the game,” Woulf said.
It wasn’t Suring’s best shooting night, as the Eagles went 19-61 from the field and 4-26 from 3-point range, but they will be happy to get the win on a night they didn’t have it going from deep.
“Our team played well and took care of the basketball,” Woulf said. “We struggled shooting from the outside but did not let that get us down. The energy and positivity was there the entire game.”
Bears Pull Away From
Bulldogs for 64-38 Win
Peshtigo was beaten 64-38 by Bonduel in non-conference action on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs kept the game close for the first 10 minutes, but Bonduel built a 32-15 lead before the half.
Peshtigo pulled within eight in the second half, but couldn’t sustain it for the entire game.
“At the 13-minute mark, Bonduel figured out our 2-1-2 zone and with good passing, shooting, and execution they pulled away with it,” Peshtigo coach Jeff Sunstrom said.
Bonduel had four scorers in double figures. Audrey Weier’s 12 points were a team-high.
Peshtigo’s Rylie Ellie led all scorers with 14 points. Jaci Tonn had eight, followed by five apiece from Maysen Brissette and Brooklyn Phillips.
The Bulldogs (1-4 overall, 1-1 Packerland Conference) get back to Packerland play with a trip to Sturgeon Bay Thursday. The Clippers are 1-4 overall and 0-2 in conference competition.
Marinette Secures
Win Over Waupaca
Marinette beat Waupaca 61-38 on Friday behind a balanced scoring effort.
Riley Kieffer scored 15, Addison Pristelski scored 13, and Olivia Hansen scored 10, including eight in the first half. Kaya Bodam scored eight, Bryanna Torkko got six, and Rylee Hansen chipped in five.
Marinette led 31-14 at halftime. Macie Studinski led Waupaca with 19 points, 14 of which came in the second half.
Marines Continue
Winning Ways to
Beat Shawano
Riley Kieffer and Addison Pristelski continued to show up big in the scoring column for Marinette in a 54-43 win against Shawano on Saturday.
Kieffer scored 16 points, with nine coming on a trio of first-half 3-pointers. Pristelski made four 3-pointers in the first half and finished the game with 15 points.
Those seven 3-pointers accounted for all but six of Marinette’s first-half points. The Marines led 27-23 at the midway point.
Bryanna Torkko and Chloe Seymour each scored five second-half points and seven points total. Olivia Hansen had five.
Cougars Can’t Be
Stopped Against
Oneida Nation
Coleman defeated Oneida Nation 63-23 on Monday for the Cougars’ third straight M&O Conference win to start the season.
Kiersten Jensen scored 13 points on 4-13 shooting and Aubrey Bintz scored 13 on 4-10 shooting from the field. Both players made three free throws.
Cameron Zeitler was 3-5 from the field for 10 points, Madelyn Thinther went 3-5 and scored nine, and Callee Compe made two of three shots for six points. Jensen’s seven rebounds led the team.
Oneida Nation’s Madalyn King scored seven points to lead the team in scoring.
The Cougars (4-1 overall) host Wausaukee (1-5 overall, 0-3 M&O) at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.
Badgers Beat Rangers
Despite 20 From Schlies
Niagara defeated Wausaukee 54-40 on Monday despite 20 points from the Rangers’ Rachel Schlies.
Schlies led all scorers, but no other Ranger scored more than five points. Sparrow Luccarini and Katelyn Luccarini each scored five.
For Niagara, Morgan Borchardt and Josie Rock scored 15 and 10, respectively. Abby Wells scored nine, Samantha Oratch scored seven, and Mallory Sanicki finished with six.
Wausaukee (1-5 overall, 0-3 M&O Conference) heads to Coleman’s house at 7:15 p.m. Thursday. The Cougars are undefeated in M&O play.
Niagara (3-2 overall, 2-1 M&O) visits Saint Thomas Aquinas Academy at 7 p.m. Thursday. STAA is 0-3 in M&O play.
Bobcats Go Wild  
in Win Over Elcho
Florence dominated proceedings during a 50-15 win over Elcho on Thursday night.
Isabella Millan made six of nine 3-pointers and six of eight free throws to lead all players in scoring with 24 points. Morgan Tomczak had an efficient 4-5 night to score eight points.
Kamdan Johnson struggled from the field, shooting 1-11, but she was all over the court, stuffing the stat sheet with 10 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and two blocks.
Hanna Holdaway had five points and seven rebounds and Victoria Peterson’s 13 rebounds led the team. She had four points.
Lena Battles Suring
for 9 Point Victory
Lena and Suring are both 2-1 in conference play after the Wildcats won 54-45 win over the Eagles on Monday night.
Eva Brooks had a stat-stuffing night, scoring 18 points on 9-14 shooting, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking four shots.
Whitney Potter had 17 points on 7-16 shooting, with six rebounds. Natalie McNurlen led the team with seven assists, adding five steals, with seven rebounds and six points as well. Claire Brooks scored 10 points with five steals and six rebounds.
Suring’s Bunny Cramer scored 15 points. Mackenzie Bailey had nine points and 11 rebounds, and Emma Kristof scored eight with five assists. Birdee Cramer and Hailey VanRens scored seven and six, respectively.
The Wildcats (3-1 overall, 2-1 M&O) host Gillett on Thursday. The Tigers are 2-0 in M&O play.
Suring (4-2 overall, 2-1 M&O) welcomes Three Lakes for a non-conference matchup on Saturday at 5:45 p.m.
Coleman Gets
Conference Win
Over Niagara
Coleman passed an early M&O Conference test against Niagara on Friday night, picking up a 45-34 win.
Kiersten Jensen led all scorers with 16 points, making a trio of 3-pointers. Aubrey Bintz scored 11 points and Cameron Zeitler scored eight. Maddie Hinther scored five points, all in the first half.
Niagara trailed 24-14 at halftime, with seven points from Morgan Borchardt keeping things within reach.
Borchardt was limited a bit in the second half, scoring two points. Josie Rock led the Lady Badgers with 13 points, all of them coming after the halftime break. Abigail Wells scored five points.
The Cougars held the advantage at the free throw line. Niagara went 7-19 at the line and Coleman was 12-24.
Team Effort Sees
Lena Defeat Crivitz
Lena ran through the Crivitz defense in a 64-35 win on Friday night, with nine different Wildcats finding their way onto the scorebook.
Lena started the game strong, taking a 9-0 lead early and a 33-20 lead at the half.
Whitney Potter’s 18 points led all scorers. Chaela Rabas scored 10. Eva Brooks chipped in nine, Claire Brooks added eight, Natalie McNurlen scored seven, and Breanna Koslowski finished with six.
Karli Fischer, Kali Fischer, and Haley Van Ark scored two points apiece.
The Wolverines’ leading scorers were Lucy Gruszynski and Lexi Franzmeier with eight points apiece. Lilli Watson, Melissa Neuman, and Kirsten Pusick each scored five. Tayah Werner scored four.
Marines Fall to Foxes
in NEC Matchup
Fox Valley Lutheran brought its A-game in a 70-44 win over Marinette on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
FVL was led offensively by Alayna Feidt, who scored 21 points. Emily Jaenke and Lauren Riesop each scored 12.
For Marinette, Ilivia Hansen’s nine points were a team-high. Addison Pristelski scored eight, followed by seven from Bryanna Torkko and six apiece for Rylee Hansen and Kaya Bodam.
The win was FVL’s third straight to begin the season. The Foxes beat Seymour and Waupaca in their first two games of the year.
“FVL is a very talented team and we played tough. We just couldn’t cut the lead below six before they went on a run before half,” Marinette coach Zac Barker said. “They were up 16 at half and in the second half we couldn’t hit shots consistently to ever cut into the lead.”