This story is sponsored by: Chips Hamburgers of Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic girls basketball team used its pressure defense to force numerous turnovers and the Dons turned them into a number of easy baskets as it rolled to a 67-28 victory over Northland Lutheran in a WIAA Division 5 girls basketball regional quarterfinal Tuesday night at Columbus Catholic High School
The Dons forced 29 turnovers and shot 50 percent from the field (29-for-50), while limiting Northland Lutheran to just seven made baskets in the win.
The No. 6 seed Columbus Catholic moves on to a D-5 regional semifinal at No. 3 Athens (22-3) on Friday.
“Early on I thought we were a little nervous and tense, which happens in playoff basketball, plus playing without Hailey (Zimmermann), but our defense fueled our offense,” Columbus Catholic coach Ron Wilczek said. “We got some easy baskets in transition. I also thought Hailey Klumb provided a spark by attacking the rim and the paint, and making things happen.”
Northland Lutheran had a brief 4-2 lead before the Dons turned up the pressure, forcing turnovers on eight-straight possessions and going on a 20-0 run to take control of the game.
Hailey Klumb scored eight of her game-high 22 points in the opening six minutes to pace Columbus Catholic.
Sam Casperson had a pair of 3-pointers and Jenna Kibble scored off an offensive rebound to push the Dons’ lead to 37-13 with just under four minutes to go in the half.
After a pair of free throws from Brianna Obsuszt for the Wildcats, Columbus scored six more in a four, including two-straight hoops by Maggie Callaghan, and took a 43-17 lead into halftime.
“We talked about not just playing on the perimeter, but getting some paint touches, attack the rim and play inside-out, and that’s exactly what happened,” Wilczek said. “Some girls stepped up tonight and I hope they can continue to do that because we are going to need it Friday night.”
The Dons put away any doubt of the outcome early in the second half, outscoring Northland Lutheran 22-3 over the first 9½ minutes.
Kibbel finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Klumb also had 11 boards for Columbus Catholic.
Obsuszt had 10 points and Bree Kaehn pulled down 14 rebounds for Northland Lutheran (10-12).
Dons 67, Wildcats 28
Northland Lutheran 17 11 – 28
Columbus Catholic 43 24 – 67
NORTHLAND LUTHERAN (28): Isemina Rieth 0-0 0-0 0, Josslin Adams 3-8 0-0 6, Bree Kaehn 0-7 4-6 4, Riley Fairbanks 1-10 0-0 2, Sadie Russ 1-7 0-0 3, Brianna Obsuszt 2-9 6-11 10, Josie Russ 0-4 3-4 3, Rachel Schmidt 0-1 0-0 0. FG: 7-46. FT: 13-21. 3-pointers: 1-12 (S. Russ 1-3, Obsuszt 0-2, Fairbanks 0-3, Kaehn 0-4). Rebounds: 34 (Kaehn 14). Turnovers: 29. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 10-12.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (67): Maggie Callaghan 3-7 0-1 7, Emily Boyer 0-0 0-1 0, Cierra Dieringer 1-5 0-1 2, Sam Casperson 4-7 0-0 10, Callie Hanson 1-3 0-0 2, Mira Torbey 2-3 0-0 4, Hailey Hargraves 0-0 0-0 0, Lily Stratman 1-4 0-0 2, Courtney Sommer 3-3 0-1 6, Sammy Becker 0-0 0-1 0, Chayse Blenker 0-0 0-0 0, Jenna Kibbel 5-13 2-4 12, Hailey Klumb 9-13 4-7 22. FG: 29-58. FT: 6-16. 3-pointers: 3-12 (Casperson 2-3, Callaghan 1-4, Dieringer 0-1, Klumb 0-1, Kibbel 0-3). Rebounds: 40 (Kibbel 11, Klumb 11). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 15-10.