This story is sponsored by: The University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic girls basketball team, despite some sloppy play at times, did more than enough to earn a win in its season opener.
The Dons started the game on a 10-3 run and never trailed, going on to a 51-45 victory over Rib Lake in a nonconference game Tuesday night at Columbus Catholic High School.
Both teams finished with more turnovers than made baskets and survived long scoring droughts as the game was fairly close throughout.
Baylie Neider scored twice as the Dons ran out to a 10-3 lead. Columbus held Rib Lake scoreless for 9 minutes to open up an 18-6 lead after a turnover and a layup by Morgan Albrecht.
Natalie Pospyhalla hit back-to-back baskets, including a 3-pointer, to put Columbus up 23-16 at halftime.
Columbus led by as many as 11 and Rib Lake got as close as four before the Dons were able to run out the clock with a strong ball-control offense. The Dons made just one basket in the final 6 minutes, but made 6 of 8 free throws during that time to keep Rib Lake at bay.
“We’ve got a lot to work on, especially the turnovers (the Dons had 22),” Columbus Catholic coach Rhonda Keding said. “We always do a drill in practice, we call it the 3-minute drill, and we set plays up where, ‘hey, we’re ahead, we have to waste the clock.’ The other team is behind and has to get to the ball.”
Pospyhalla finished with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, Albrecht had 11 points, and Kendra Baierl hauled down 15 rebounds for the Dons.
Katie Cardey scored 17 of her game-high 25 points in the second half for Rib Lake, which finished with 25 turnovers.
“Once we really put it together, with transition, our quickness will come through,” Keding said. “The girls are ready to get it going. I’m glad we had this first game to really get focused on what we need to work on.”
Columbus Catholic will open its Cloverbelt Conference East Division season Friday at Colby.
Dons 51, Redmen 45
Rib Lake 16 29 – 45
Columbus Catholic 23 28 – 51
RIB LAKE (45): Emily Espinoza 0-0 0-0 0, Caitlyn Fitzl 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Cardey 9-15 6-10 25, Cameron Scheithauer 3-5 0-0 6, Hailey Wudi 2-4 1-6 6, Samantha Rodman 0-3 0-0 0, Erin Probst 0-1 0-0 0, Raejana Wright 4-12 0-1 8. FG: 18-40. FT: 7-17. 3-pointers: 2-4 (Cardey 1-2, Wudi 1-2). Rebounds: 27 (Wright 10). Turnovers: 24. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 0-1.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (51): Morgan Albrecht 4-9 3-6 11, Hailey Roehl 1-2 0-0 2, Baylie Neider 3-6 2-3 8, Maren Seefluth 2-5 0-0 4, Kendra Baierl 1-5 2-4 4, Natalie Pospyhalla 4-11 2-2 13, Zoe Stratman 0-1 0-0 0, Marissa Immerfall 4-9 1-3 9. FG: 19-48. FT: 10-18. 3-pointers: 3-15 (Pospyhalla 3-8, Seefluth 0-2, Neider 0-1, Albrecht 0-4). Rebounds: 30 (Baierl 15). Turnovers: 22. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 1-0.