Indians take it to Tigers

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- Sleepy Eye coach Shane Heiderscheidt doesn't worry about who is going to lead his team in scoring on any given night.

That's because he has the luxury of having four players that can take over the game at certain times.

On Monday, Charlotte McMullen was that player, finishing with 21 points, eight rebounds, and seven steals. She was one of four players that scored in double-figures and led the Indians to a 68-50 win over Springfield in Tomahawk Conference girls basketball action.

"Charlotte just comes up with big plays, it's not nothing I even ask her to do," Heidersheidt said. "She anticipates the ball so well. It's just nice to have her."

Also scoring in double figures for the Indians was Allie Renberg (14 points, seven rebounds), Sam Widmer (14 points) and Elizabeth Piotter (10 points).

"The four girls that we have -- Sam, Allie, Elizabeth and Charlotte -- any one of them can score 20 points a night," Heiderscheidt said. "I just have the luxury of going with whoever is hot. Last Friday it was Allie and Charlotte, and tonight it was all four of them."

The Tigers were led by Tiffany Wilhelmi's 13 points. Wilhemi hit four three-pointers for the Tigers, three of them coming in the final quarter.

"She's playing real well, and she's starting to come off the bench early in the last couple of games," Springfield coach Paul Arnoldi said. "She's been really consistent putting up big numbers."

The Tigers struggled and had too many turnovers in the first quarter, and the Indians took advantage of that sloppy play and led 16-7 after the first quarter.

But the Tigers got the offense figured out in the second quarter, and back-to-back baskets by Krystal Schwanke cut the Sleepy Eye lead to 27-20.

"I thought we played very well at times, and we had stretches where we didn't play very well," Springfield coach Paul Arnoldi said. "Just a lot of little things -- young things -- that hopefully down the road we don't make."

The Indians led 35-25 at the break, but two Renberg baskets and a trey by Widmer stretched the lead to 39-25, forcing a Springfield timeout.

The Tigers were never able to get back into the game after that run in the third quarter as the Indians continued to rely on their inside game.

For the Tigers, Alissa Domeier scored 11 points and Tori Jones added eight. Schwanke scored seven.

"You gotta hand it to Sleepy Eye too," Arnoldi said. "We're young in the post, and they just took it to us."

Springfield (2-3, 1-3) is at McLeod West Friday, while the Indians host St. Mary's.

Jeremy Behnke can be reached at jbehnke@nujournal.com