The Britton-Hecla girls basketball team got into the win column by stopping Tri-State 54-33 on Saturday after falling victim to a late Deuel rally 38-33 on Friday.
Coach Terry Nelson squad took a 1-5 record to Milbank last night Tuesday. Three twin bills with the boys’ team are on tap for this week. The Lady Braves host Redfield on Thursday (JV boys, girls 5 p.m,, varsity girls, varsity boys to follow), travel to Watertown to play Great Plains Lutheran on Friday (JV girls 4 p.m., JV boys varsity girls, varsity boys to follow), and Wilmot comes to town on Tuesday (JV boys, girls 5 p.m., varsity girls, varsity boys to follow).
“We’re still struggling with turnovers and free throws but things are slowly kicking in,” said Nelson. “Getting the win over Tri-State is a big confidence-builder for us that we needed. The main thing we need is to get that confidence. We know we can compete when we’re hitting all all cylinders.”
Britton-Hecla 54
Tri-State 33
Britton-Hecla went on a 20-2 run in the first and second quarters to overwhelm Tri-State.
Nelson’s crew started fast, grabbing an 8-1 lead four minutes into the game as four different players scored. Tri-State cut the margin to 8-5 at the 2:45 mark but then the Lady Braves got on a roll. Maddi Micko led the way with eight points, including a trey, and Daynika Zuehlke hit a three-pointer and scored seven to key the big run and gave the local cagers a 28-9 halftime lead. Tri-State was never able to mount a serious threat in the second half.
Chellon Pruitt led a balanced attack with 16 points,14 rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Micko added 15 counters and Daynika Zuehlke netted 10 and had four steals. Karlie Zuehlke grabbed 14 boards and Koryn Jones dished out five assists.
Deuel 38
Britton-Hecla 33
Britton-Hecla climbed out of a nine-point hole in the fourth quarter but Deuel hit four free tosses in the final minute to hold off the rally.
The Lady Braves led 9-7 at the first quarter break but were outscored 14-7 in the second stanza to trail 21-16 at halftime. Karlie Zuehlke hit a trey two minutes into the third period but the local cagers did not hit another field goal the rest of the quarter, trailing 30-21 with eight minutes to play.
Daynika Zuehlke caught fire to open the final quarter, swishing a trey and a pair of two-pointers in the first four and a half minutes. Koryn Jones added a floater and the game was tied at 30-all with 3:24 remaining. Deuel went back up 33-30 before Karlie Zuehlke tied the game again with a conventional three-point play with 1:29 left. But the Lady Braves did not score again as the visitors put the game away at the line.
Daynika Zuehlke led B-H with 11 points and Karlie Zuehlke and Jones contributed nine apiece. Chellon Pruitt continued her dominance on the boards, grabbing 15 missed shots, and Karlie Zuehlke pulled down seven. Jones was credited with four assists.
FOR FULL STATS, SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL.
