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December 8, 1999
Cougars down CathedralBy LAURA OTTO Journal Sports Writer NEW ULM -- It was the first game of the season for Cedar Mountain. It might as well have been for New Ulm Cathedral. With point guard Kristin Beranek out indefinitely with mononucleosis, the Greyhounds committed a first-game-like 22 turnovers and fell to Cedar Mountain 51-44 Tuesday night in Tomahawk Conference girls basketball action. "We were a little nervous," Cathedral coach Mary Dengerud said. "We just found out yesterday (about Beranek). In a game situation, trying to run our offense, we were a little shaky." Kelly Mace came off the bench for Cedar Mountain and led the Cougars with 15 points. "She takes the ball real strong to the basket," Cedar Mountain coach Ken Thiesen said. "She gets to the free throw line a lot, which is good for us because she's good at the free throw line." Kim Mathiowetz added 12 points for the Cougars. Natalia Haala -- stepping in at point for Beranek -- led the Greyhounds with 14 points. Cathy Boettger added 10 points for Cathedral. Each team committed eight turnovers, resulting in a see-saw battle in the first quarter. Cedar Mountain jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, getting outside baskets from Kim Mathiowetz and Corrie Distad. Cathedral never managed to get closer than two points, but Cedar Mountain was never able to pull away, and held a 12-10 lead going into the second quarter. Mace's shooting helped Cedar Mountain build a five-point lead. Mace put the Cougars up 18-11 with about 5:30 left in the second quarter, scoring a layup off the break, taking a feed from Distad. It looked as if Cedar Mountain was going to run away with the game, but Cathedral switched from a 2-3 zone to a man defense. The Greyhounds then went on a 6-0 run, closing to 18-17 with 3:43 left in the second when Mary Sue Miheve scored inside. Cedar Mountain answered by outscoring Cathedral 8-2 to end the half. With the Cougars up 20-17, Mace drove the lane for a five-point Cougar lead. On Cedar Mountain's next possession, Mace again scored, hitting a 16-footer for a 24-17 margin. Cedar Mountain went into half with a 26-19 lead. With Hazuka on the bench with four fouls for half the quarter, the Greyhounds were unable to pose a serious threat in the third quarter. But the Greyhounds closed to 31-25 with 3:53 left in the quarter before Hazuka's departure. Cedar Mountain started out the final quarter going on a 6-0 run. Mathiowetz hit two from under the basket to open up a 13-point Cougar advantage. Cathedral scored the next two buckets to come within nine. Cathy Boettger then brought the Greyhounds to within six when she converted on a three-point play with just under four minutes in the game. Boettger drove the lane, was fouled by Distad and hit the free throw to shave Cedar Mountain's lead to 44-38. That's as close as Cathedral got. "It's nice to get our first game out of the way," Thiesen said. "It's nice to get our first win. ... If we came out and played perfect in the first game, then we'd have nowhere to go." Down by nine with a minute left to play Beranek's absence was felt by Cathedral. Rather than shooting the ball quickly, the Greyhounds seemed more concerned about setting up their offense. "We had a hard time with the adjustment,"Dengerud said. "We had to adjust. It was just one of those situations We were uneasy and not very confident." Cathedral (1-1) will be at Springfield Friday. Cedar Mountain (1-0) will host Buffalo Lake-Hector at Morgan. Both will be Tomahawk Conference games.
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