NEW GLARUS - Alycia Atwell said the nice thing about this season's New Glarus girls basketball team is it doesn't panic.
Take the Glarner Knights' 41-34 victory Friday against Belleville, for example.
New Glarus twice had major difficulty in starting quarters against a one-win Belleville team in the Capitol South Conference contest.
"We always try to come out fast right away, but when it doesn't work we just try to get tips on defense," Atwell said. "Most of the time, that gets our energy up in the middle of the quarter.
"Our defense is what gets us going offensively."
That was certainly the case in New Glarus' second win vs. the rival Wildcats in 12 days.
Atwell, a senior forward, scored a season-high 23 points - more than half the Knights' production - and the defense did the rest for New Glarus (8-6, 4-1 Capitol), which has won five of six games.
Junior guard Anya Schween scored the game's first two baskets and New Glarus never trailed, but it wasn't all smooth sailing. The Knights committed four turnovers in the second quarter before scoring, then opened the fourth quarter by missing their first six shots, committing four turnovers and missing two free throws before scoring.
That allowed Belleville
(1-14, 0-5) to put together a 7-0 run and pull within 32-24 with 4 minutes, 41 seconds left.
Knights coach Megan Scheele recounted her directive during a fourth-quarter timeout.
"You have three minutes girls, you have three solid minutes to show me what you have and how you finish out a team," Scheele said. "We made enough free throws down the stretch and played enough defense to close it out."
The Knights didn't have a field goal in the fourth quarter, but went 10 of 12 from the free throw line.
New Glarus shot 28 percent (12 of 43) from the floor, but held Belleville to 27 percent (10 of 37). The Wildcats were 10 of 21 from the foul line.
Atwell, who flirted with her career high of 27 points set last season against Wisconsin Heights, credited her teammates - especially the slick-passing Schween - for their part in her big night.
"She's been around a long time and she knows all the tricks of the trade," Belleville coach William Freidig said of Atwell. "She's a very nice ballplayer and is complemented by people who can handle the ball and get her the ball."
Schween finished with nine points.
Haven Freidig scored nine points to pace Belleville.
Take the Glarner Knights' 41-34 victory Friday against Belleville, for example.
New Glarus twice had major difficulty in starting quarters against a one-win Belleville team in the Capitol South Conference contest.
"We always try to come out fast right away, but when it doesn't work we just try to get tips on defense," Atwell said. "Most of the time, that gets our energy up in the middle of the quarter.
"Our defense is what gets us going offensively."
That was certainly the case in New Glarus' second win vs. the rival Wildcats in 12 days.
Atwell, a senior forward, scored a season-high 23 points - more than half the Knights' production - and the defense did the rest for New Glarus (8-6, 4-1 Capitol), which has won five of six games.
Junior guard Anya Schween scored the game's first two baskets and New Glarus never trailed, but it wasn't all smooth sailing. The Knights committed four turnovers in the second quarter before scoring, then opened the fourth quarter by missing their first six shots, committing four turnovers and missing two free throws before scoring.
That allowed Belleville
(1-14, 0-5) to put together a 7-0 run and pull within 32-24 with 4 minutes, 41 seconds left.
Knights coach Megan Scheele recounted her directive during a fourth-quarter timeout.
"You have three minutes girls, you have three solid minutes to show me what you have and how you finish out a team," Scheele said. "We made enough free throws down the stretch and played enough defense to close it out."
The Knights didn't have a field goal in the fourth quarter, but went 10 of 12 from the free throw line.
New Glarus shot 28 percent (12 of 43) from the floor, but held Belleville to 27 percent (10 of 37). The Wildcats were 10 of 21 from the foul line.
Atwell, who flirted with her career high of 27 points set last season against Wisconsin Heights, credited her teammates - especially the slick-passing Schween - for their part in her big night.
"She's been around a long time and she knows all the tricks of the trade," Belleville coach William Freidig said of Atwell. "She's a very nice ballplayer and is complemented by people who can handle the ball and get her the ball."
Schween finished with nine points.
Haven Freidig scored nine points to pace Belleville.
