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Manawa girls knock off Marion

Wolves lose to Menominee Indian

By Mike Frazier


Laynie Bessette lays up two points for the Wolves. Holly Neuman Photo
Laynie Bessette lays up two points for the Wolves. Holly Neuman Photo

The Manawa girls’ basketball team opened the 2015-16 season by hosting two nonconference games.

The Wolves dropped a 30-25 decision Nov. 17 to defending Central Wisconsin-10 Conference champion Menominee Indian and handed Marion a 36-33 defeat Nov. 19.

Menominee Indian 30, Manawa 25
The Eagles were hit hard by graduation, but still returned center Desirae Webster, who has been a thorn in Manawa’s side the past three years. Webster led the Eagles with 11 points, including five during the Eagles’ 8-0 run that proved to be the difference in the game.

The Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the game with Webster’s putback basket capping the run.

Freshman Laynie Bessette’s free throw finally put Manawa on the scoreboard.

Despite forcing 16 first-half turnovers, the Wolves struggled from the floor by hitting only two of their first 22 shots. The Eagles also struggled offensively, but led 16-6 at halftime.

Baskets from Alexis Wepner pulled Manawa to within 18-12 with 16:43 left to play, but Webster’s three-point play triggered an 8-0 run that also included a three-pointer from Taylor Mahkimetas that gave the Eagles a 26-12 lead with 10:43 to play.

Sparked by Bessette and junior Haley Reierson, the Wolves cut the lead to 29-25 with eight seconds on the clock, but a free throw with two seconds left sealed Manawa’s fate.

Bessette and Reierson led the Wolves with 10 and eight points, respectively, while Bessette also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

Manawa 36, Marion 33
The Mustangs used a 5-0 run to regain the lead until halftime, as Abby Polzin’s three-pointer gave the visitors a 15-11 lead with 6;36 remaining in the first half.

That lead would grow to 19-13 with 4;09 left on Hannah Greene-Gretzinger’s three, but the Wolves finished the half with a 6-2 run and trailed 21-19 at the break.

Another Greene-Gretzinger basket with 15;35 left to play gave the Mustangs the lead for the final time. Sophomore Sami Struzynski’s baskets triggered a 6-0 Manawa run that gave the Wolves the lead for good at 27-23 with 14:03 remaining.

Manawa later held 30-25 and 34-29 leads, but could not put the Mustangs away. Marion eventually cut the led to 34-33 with just over six minutes remaining. Manawa missed four straight free throws until Carlee Zander drained a pair with 1:41 left to play.

Zander finished with a team-high 15 points and added five rebounds.

The Wolves played at Almond-Bancroft Nov. 23 and will open Central Wisconsin-8 Conference play at Iola-Scandinavia at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1.

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