Knights explosive in win

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Sleep Eye St. Mary's had no problem getting prepared for Thursday's game with crosstown rival Sleepy Eye public and it was evident by the score at the end of the first quarter.

The Knights scored the first 13 points of the game and jumped out to a 17-1 lead and defeated Sleepy Eye 52-39 in Tomahawk Conference girls basketball action.

"We were just pumped up for the game; we were ready to play," St. Mary's guard Jonalyn Cook said. "We worked really hard at practice, and we just executed I guess."

Freshman Molly Mathiowetz scored 19 points to lead the Knights.

"I think that was key -- we hit our shots early and they missed some," St. Mary's coach Bruce Woitas said. "We gave them just the one look, and we got the rebound and came down and hit again. When you get up 17-1 on somebody, you feel pretty good."

Kristi Schieffert led the Indians with 13 points but went scoreless in the first half.

"We had a little trouble getting started," Schieffert said. "It's always kind of a big rivalry thing."

The Indians were unable to find an answer for Mathiowetz early in the first quarter as the Knights kept going to her down low. She scored seven of the Knights' first nine points, including five from the free throw line.

"We knew she'd be a big person to defend," Schieffert said. "She did it for them and she's great."

Cook and Mathiowetz hit back-to-back baskets to put the Knights up 13-0 and the Indians finally scored on Charlotte McMullen's free throw.

Mathiowetz scored four more points and the Indians ended the quarter with a 3-pointer from Samantha Widmer to make it 17-4 St. Mary's.

Mathiowetz' jumper and Cook's 3-pointer gave the Knights a 22-10 lead and a jumper from Raina Walter made it 27-14. The Knights led 29-17 at halftime.

"I think we just knew we had to kick it in gear at halftime, and we kinda came out a little bit more fired up than we did in the first half," Schieffert said.

The Indians managed only five points in the third after Schieffert hit a 3-pointer. Cook's 3-pointer made it 33-17, and St. Mary's went on a 8-0 run at the end of the quarter to lead 44-22 after three quarters.

Cook finished with eight points, six rebounds and four assists. Liza Schwartz had nine rebounds for the Knights.

In the fourth quarter, Sadie Sabatino was fouled as she was attempting a 3-point shot. The shot missed, but she hit all three free throws to give St. Mary's a 50-31 lead. The Knights scored 15 points from the line.

"Actually, we've been struggling on free throws since the beginning of the year," Cook said. "We've been working on them, and that's good to see."

Schieffert scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter -- including two from beyond the arc. The Knights outrebounded the Indians 43-21.

"It's big," Woitas said. "That's one thing that we've been trying to emphasize and work on. The kids really saw the floor well tonight and made good decisions with the ball."

Sleepy Eye (3-8, 1-7) hosts Comfrey Monday.

St. Mary's is at Buffalo Lake-Hector Monday.