Loyal girls lose to Athens in playoffs, coach reflects on winning season

By Valorie Brecht The Loyal girls basketball team has ended its season, after losing in the second round of the WIAA playoffs. Last Friday, the girls traveled to Athens to face the Bluejays, who were the number-four seed in the playoff bracket while Loyal was number five.

The Bluejays got out to a quick lead and didn’t look back, putting up 33 points in the first half compared to Loyal’s 11. In the second, the Bluejays scored a few less points — 29 — while the Greyhounds increased their scoring output to 16. That left the final score at 62-27 for the Athens win.

Against Athens, “size and athleticism was our main challenges. They were tall, physical and athletic. They shot the ball very well,” wrote Loyal coach Mike Rueth in an email.

To reach the Athens game, the Loyal girls had to defeat Rosholt, the number 12 seed, in the first round of the playoffs. That game took place at home on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and was a near reversal of the Athens game, with Loyal scoring 58 compared to Rosholt’s 23. High scorers for the Greyhounds were Addysen Wolf with 15 points, including three 3-pointers; and Olivia Nikolai with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Other scorers were: Mallory Jakobi and Autumn Zvolena each with 8 points; Jordynn Corder with 5; and Summer Smith, Annika Schley, Andrya Wilke and Payten Wolf, all with 2.

The final two games were enough to give Loyal a 14-10 record on the season, with the team 8-6 in conference play. That was an improvement from last season, when the girls had an 11-13 overall record; and the 2021-22 season, when they finished 11-15.

Rueth identified the main challenges his team faced this season.

“Offensively, we struggled scoring and finishing around the hoop. Defensively, rebounding was a struggle,” he said.

Conversely, he also felt there was a lot to be proud of.

“We always could rely on our relentless energy during basketball games. I also feel that this team never quit. They always gave their best effort in games,” he said. “Our overtime game against Greenwood was exciting – the kids never quit. We played without our starting point guard (Sheila Tellock) and her teammates stepped up to the challenge. The come-from-behind win against Columbus (33-29) was a big win and was fun to have the crowd energized for the game.”

The Loyal girls basketball team is mostly juniors, but will graduate one senior – Sheila Tellock. Rueth said she was an important part of the team’s success this year.

“Sheila was consistently one of the hardest-working and most energetic players on game days. She was often given the task to guard our opponent’s best player. We will definitely miss her energy on defense next year,” he said.

Looking ahead to next season, Rueth said that individual training and commitment to the sport would be crucial in building upon the success experienced thus far.

“Our challenge in the off-season is to get our players more consistent and to do this, it is a must that we invest more time into basketball and our individual skill development,” he wrote. “We are looking forward to having more upperclassmen to lead us in this endeavor.”

CASEY KRAUTKRAMER/STAFF PHOTOS

Leaping for the layup

James Durrstein of the Greenwood High School varsity boys basketball team jumps up to attempt a layup in the boys’ game versus Cadott on Feb. 22 for the Cloverbelt crossover. The boys lost that game 70-36. Their season came to an end after they lost to Royall in the first round of the WIAA playoffs Feb. 27, with a score of 76-13.

CHEYENNE THOMAS/STAFF PHOTO

CASEY KRAUTKRAMER/STAFF PHOTOS

Above, Addysen Wolf sprints down the court for the Greyhounds during the Feb. 23 game.