The Manawa girls’ basketball team spilt a pair of non-conference games last week as they came from behind to defeat Bowler 33-26 on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and trailed from start to finish and fell to Tigerton 35-23 on Friday, Dec. 6.
The spilt dropped the Wolves record to 1-2 as they enter conference play.
Tigerton 35, Manawa 23
TIGERTON – The Wolves were bitten by the turnover bug as Tigerton forced 37 turnovers, including 11 during the fatal fourth quarter as the Tigers took control with a 10-0 run.
The Tigers forced 12 first quarter turnovers to grab a 10-6 lead including a 6-1 run to open the game.
Molly Loughrin finished the first half with the last two baskets to knot the score at 12 at the conclusion of the first half.
Tigerton’s Erin Robbins drained a three pointer to spark a 10-0 run that sealed the Lady Wolves’ fate. That run carried into the final quarter. Tigerton’s Emily Wendt sealed the game for Tigerton going six for six from the free throw line.
Ashlee Strebe led Manawa with eight points.
Manawa 33, Bowler 26
MANAWA – Bowler’s Kenedie Malonne made back-to-back baskets allowing the Panthers to hold a 10-4 lead with just over a minute to play in the first quarter. The Wolves slowly chipped away at the Panther lead until Brogan Bartel’s basket with 3:44 left in the first half regained the lead for Manawa at 13-12.
After three lead changes Sam Johnson gave Manawa its first lead since early in the opening minutes at 18-16. The Panthers tied the game at 18 apiece at halftime.
The Lady Wolves were a frigid 7 of 27 during the first half and were even colder from the charity stripe as they made only one free throw in 10 attempts.
Bartel opened the second half with a basket giving Manawa the lead for good. Autumn Ferg’s three-pointer and Mikayla Pecha’s basket finished the third quarter with Manawa leading 27-22.
Ferg and Bartel continued to crash the boards and their baskets opened up Manawa’s largest lead of the night at 31-22 with 5:27 left to play.
Ferg led the Wolves with 10 points and 14 rebounds including 10 defensive boards. Bartel added 9 points and 12 rebounds including 8 offensive rebounds. Johnson added 7 points.
The Wolves host Weyauwega-Fremont, Friday, Dec. 13.