Rib Lake shuts down Tomahawk after losing two in conference play
Lauren Pelnis had a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double and freshman Josie Scheithauer scored a season-high 10 points in Rib Lake’s 32-22 non-conference girls basketball win at Tomahawk Tuesday night.
Nellie Hopkins added eight points while Kamy Annala and Molly Heiser chipped in two points apiece as Rib Lake secured its third win of the season. The Lady Redmen improved to 3-11 while Tomahawk fell to 2-9.
“We played well enough to win,” Rib Lake head coach Mike Wudi said. “It was definitely an improvement over Monday at Abbotsford. We rebounded better and protected the ball. It’s nice to get one on the road. I’m happy for the girls.”
Rib Lake clamped down on the Hatchets defensively and took a 17-8 halftime lead. The margin hung in the nine- to 10-point range the rest of the way. The Redmen collected 20 steals in the victory.
With nine rebounds, Hopkins fell two points and a board shy of her own double- double. She also had a team-high six steals and two assists. Annala had five steals and blocked a shot. Pelnis had three steals, the team’s lone 3-pointer and she hit three of four free throws in the win.
Heiser had three rebounds, two steals and blocked a shot.
Rib Lake’s rescheduled game tonight, Thursday, at Auburndale was canceled Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s predicted storm. A rescheduled game with Marawood North champion Phillips is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday in Rib Lake.
The Lady Redmen drew the third seed in their WIAA Division 5 regional bracket and will host sixth-seeded Owen-Withee (0-13) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The winner earns a trip to second-seeded Prentice (7-8) in the regional semifinal round on Friday, Feb. 12.
While Rib Lake had turnover troubles with 29, Abbotsford’s offensive rebounding and Rib Lake’s own missed scoring opportunities in the paint were major factors as the Falcons gained a split in the season series.
Abbotsford had a 41-29 overall advantage on the boards but turned 17 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points.
Rib Lake actually outshot the Falcons from a percentage standpoint (35% to 28.3%). The Redmen were two of five from 3-point range, but 12 of 35 on twopoint shots and a woeful five of 15 from the free throw line. Abbotsford was 16 for 22 at the stripe.
Hopkins was feeling it as she went six for nine from the field and scored 14 points. She added five rebounds and two assists. Heiser was a point off her season high with seven, six of which came in the first half. She was three for four from the field and had four rebounds and two assists.
Before fouling out, Pelnis scored five points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. She also had a game-high four steals. Scheithauer finished with four points, three steals and two assists. Gehrke had three points and two rebounds and Strobach had a bucket, three assists and two steals. Annala had two assists.
Ruesch led a balanced Abbotsford attack with 12 points. Catie Clement and Sydney Falteisek added nine apiece.
