Eagles top WolverinesNew Ulm girls win second straight game

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The Eagle girls used their newfound confidence and Sibley East's changed lineup to their advantage when they beat the Wolverines 46-45 Saturday.

Vanessa Henke put Sibley East in the lead by five, 45-40, with 3:35 left when she drove baseline and scored. But the Wolverines didn't score after that, giving New Ulm a chance to catch up. Kelly Hammerschmidt put back a rebound, Megan Hauge scored after Coresa Leighty stole the ball, Hammerschmidt made a shot off of a pass from Leighty to secure the win 46-45 with 1:34 to go.

"We had our chances, but we didn't score in the last few minutes," said Sibley East coach Alan Ihrke. "We missed a lot of shots at the beginning of the game, and New Ulm had a lot of defensive rebounds in the first half."

The Wolverines were a little out of their element because Jennifer Bjorklund, who normally starts at center, was out with a rolled ankle. Another starter, Laura Prahl, also was not playing.

"We had prepared for Bjorklund," said Eagle coach Brad Metter. "But it was definitely to our advantage."

Coach Metter attributes the win to the team's confidence after their last win against Blue Earth Area, and that they played as a team.

Although Sibley East started out in full-court defense, the Eagles were able to dribble through or pass to evade traps set by the defense.

After Tricia Uecker made a jump shot to start the scoring, New Ulm came back with a few quick shots, and led 6-3 when Angie Flor drove baseline to score off of a screen from Alex Harsha. New Ulm's lead wavered at the end of the quarter, and the Wolverines took back the lead 12-10 going into quarter two.

Using an improved half court trap, the Eagles tied Sibley East, then took the lead 16-14 when Leighty sunk a shot off of a rebound. Once again the lead flip-flopped, but Flor secured a lead going into the half when she sunk a three-pointer. The half ended 25-23.

"They put pressure on early, and we did a good job," said Metter. "We have been working on our half court trap, and we forced errors just by the pressure of being there."

Coach Ihrke said his girls had some problems with New Ulm's half-court trap, partly because his girls weren't regular starters, but he said the girls adjusted well after the half.

Sibley East came into the second half with those adjustments, and by the end of the quarter, had the Eagles down by seven.

The Eagles battled back in quarter four, and after another Angie Flor three-pointer, they were down by just two, 40-38. When Sibley East had their three-minute dry spell at the end, the Eagles took advantage for the 46-45 win.

"You just can't take two minutes off in a game like that," said Ihrke. "New Ulm also made some big shots -- one three-pointer at the end -- and we didn't answer."

For the Eagles, Hammerschmidt and Flor each scored 12 points. Hammerschmidt also had seven rebounds.

Metter said that Martha Beatty also did a good job coming off the bench, and that Megan Oberlie has a good attitude and hustles.

"We were able to call on the bench when we had foul trouble early," said Metter. "The kids that came in and played did a good job. It is nice to have those kids to call on."

Astyn Bjorklund pulled down seven rebounds and scored 13 points for the Wolverines. Tricia Uecker scored 10 points and had six rebounds, and Becky Meyer had eight rebounds.

"These were two great wins for our confidence," said Metter. "I knew winning was there for them."

"I'm really pleased with how things are going," said Metter. "It will be a good opportunity to get a third win. We just have to say, 'Hey -- we expect to win.'"

The girls host Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial Tuesday.

The B squad lost to Sibley East 38-37 in overtime. Scoring leaders were Hallie Hauser with 12 points, and Jenny Clobes with 10. The C squad won 48-40, and Ciarra Steinhauser scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for New Ulm.