Game Recap with Player and Coach Comments

No. 1 STREETERS BEAT No. 2 WILDCATS

By:  Bryan Zollman

Sauk holds on to early lead for 63-58 win


The Mainstreeters erased any doubt about their ranking atop the heap in Class AA with a resounding 63-58 win over No. 2-ranked New London-Spicer in front of a packed gym at Sauk Centre High School Tuesday.


With each score came a crash of applause from the raucous crowd that was on the verge of spilling onto the court.
It was the first win against New London in their last several meetings. In fact, the Wildcats were the only team to beat Sauk during last year's 27-3 season.
"It was a big win," said sophomore Kali Peschel. "We came out strong and were able to handle their pressure and make some shots early."
After the Wildcats' Taylor Thompson made two free throws, Sauk Centre answered with 12 straight points beginning with a three-pointer from junior guard Maren Greenwaldt. They would lead the rest of the game, although New London made it close.
Senior forward Rachel Gruber followed with a 15-footer off the glass before Megan Rieland nailed a three for an 8-2 lead. After Rieland's bucket, sophomore Kali Peschel stole the incoming pass and scored. She then set up Rieland on a two on one break for a 12-2 lead.
"It was huge for us to get out to an early lead," said Greenwaldt, who finished with 18 points, including four three-pointers. "They're not the type of team you want to get down to because it's hard to come back against their press."
While Sauk had the hot hand early, the Wildcats struggled from the floor. The Streeters' post players, namely Savana Weller, Shelby Deters, Kourtney Nelson and Gruber were able to grab a good share of defensive rebounds.

After a pair of free throws for the Wildcats, Greenwaldt hit another three-pointer for a 15-4 lead.
"My shot felt good tonight," she said.
The three-point shot has been the Streeters bread and butter all season and it fed them well Tuesday as they drained seven in the first half alone.
"That was a tactic for us attacking their zone," said Peschel of the long-range attempts. "It was nice we were on and hitting those threes."
But New London battled back, playing a physical style of basketball that led to them getting to the free throw line early. Trailing 17-6, the Wildcats scored eight straight points before a pair of free throws by Rieland broke their string.
Leading 19-16 Greenwaldt showed she isn't just a threat from the outside as she pump faked past a defender and scored on a one-handed runner she laid in off the glass. It was one of the prettier baskets of the night, and one she would duplicate later in the game.
Two possessions later she hit her third three-pointer for a 24-16 Sauk lead.
Peschel, averaging 19.5 points per game, had been quiet up until that point. She hit her first three for a 27-16 lead. After a pair of free throws by Peschel, Nelson gave Sauk their biggest lead of the night at 30-16. Three-pointers by Rieland and Peschel capped off a 37-29 lead heading into the locker room.
Despite the 8-point lead at the half, you could sense this game was going to go down to the wire. New London's Thompson proved the Wildcats were not going to quit when she made a three to start the second half to pull NL-S to within five.
The Wildcats closed the gap to 42-41 when Streeter head coach Scott Bergman called a timeout. It turned out to be the right call because the Streeters went on an 8-0 run capped by three-pointers by Peschel and Greenwaldt. But New London followed with seven straight points before Greenwaldt's second one-handed runner. Thompson followed with a pair of free throws for a 52-50 lead with just over five minutes to play.
With the Wildcats guarding the perimeter, Savana Weller found herself wide open in the paint and dropped a 12-footer for a 54-50 lead. After a Wildcat bucket Weller sank a pair of free throws and Peschel followed with a steal that led to her being fouled and making both free throws for a 58-52 lead.
The Wildcats tried to claw their way back with some desperation shots near the end, but Peschel and Weller made key free throws down the stretch to seal not only the win, but sole possession of first place in the conference and their ranking as the No. 1 Class AA team in the state.
After losing three games to the Wildcats last season, this year's Streeters played with much more poise and confidence.

"Last year we got psyched out against them," said Greenwaldt. "This time we just looked at it as any other game."
Following the final buzzer the student body went into a frenzy, spilling out onto the court. But the there was nary a fist pump from the Streeter players before they shook hands and calmly made their way to the locker room. Big win, yes but still work to do and many more big games in their future.
Peschel, who finished with 22 points, downplayed the team's ranking after the game.
"It's still early," she said. "I think we proved our ranking tonight, but we're still looking to improve."
Greenwaldt said there is still a lot for the team to accomplish.
"It's a big game and a nice win, but it's still only midseason," she said. "We just gotta keep going."