NEW GLARUS - Casual high school basketball fans may not have known that the Belleville girls basketball team was missing three starters in a 62-42 win over New Glarus Friday night.
Belleville (16-3, 8-0 Capitol South) received a big game from senior Quinn Rear, who scored 28 points and hit four 3-pointers. The Wildcats played without senior starters Olivia Ace (ACL) and Alexis Freidig (broken foot), who have both suffered season ending injuries the last two weeks. The Wildcats also didn't start senior Natalie Manion, who also is overcoming an injury. Manion played in the final minute and is expected to be back in the starting lineup against Wisconsin Heights next week.
"We are trying to figure this out as far as our injury situation," Belleville coach William Freidig said. "We are watching the girls sit there. That motivates the girls on the floor. They give a little more extra knowing they (their teammates) can't play."
The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first quarter sparked by Rear who drilled two 3-pointers.
"She's a versatile player," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said of Rear. "She can shoot it from the outside. She's a big body who can get to the basket or post up. That's hard for a team to defend. I can't take anything away from her. She played a great game."
The Glarner Knights (7-12, 1-7) stayed within striking distance as New Glarus junior Alycia Atwell scored five of her team-high 17 points in the first quarter. The Knights trailed just 13-8 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats scored nine unanswered points in the second quarter and used a 16-1 run to open up a commanding 20-point lead. Rear scored inside to ignite the run and she scored on a layup to culminate the surge to give the Wildcats a 29-9 lead with 4 minutes, 27 seconds to go in the second quarter. William Freidig said scoring 39 points on 34 possessions to build a 39-17 halftime lead was an excellent start.
"That is what we want - one point per possession," he said. "It's the start you want in a rivalry game like this."
The Knights had no answer for the Wildcats to start the third quarter. Belleville freshman Haven Freidig and Rear each knocked down 3-pointers to extend the Wildcats' lead to 45-19. The Wildcats led by 31-points, 52-21 headed into the fourth quarter. New Glarus was also plagued by 24 turnovers.
"Our defense kind of wasn't there tonight," Scheele said. "We couldn't get a stop. It wasn't our night. It's frustrating."
The Knights outscored the Wildcats 21-10 in the fourth quarter. New Glarus senior Chelsea Holler scored 11 points and senior Lauren Narveson scored all seven of her points in the second half.
"Our mindset in the fourth quarter changed," Scheele said. "I said, 'Hey, we are down. We need to take some risks and take the ball to the basket and shoot if we are open.' They attacked the basket in the fourth quarter and got to the line. They showed they could play in the fourth quarter. I know they can do it."
Belleville (16-3, 8-0 Capitol South) received a big game from senior Quinn Rear, who scored 28 points and hit four 3-pointers. The Wildcats played without senior starters Olivia Ace (ACL) and Alexis Freidig (broken foot), who have both suffered season ending injuries the last two weeks. The Wildcats also didn't start senior Natalie Manion, who also is overcoming an injury. Manion played in the final minute and is expected to be back in the starting lineup against Wisconsin Heights next week.
"We are trying to figure this out as far as our injury situation," Belleville coach William Freidig said. "We are watching the girls sit there. That motivates the girls on the floor. They give a little more extra knowing they (their teammates) can't play."
The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first quarter sparked by Rear who drilled two 3-pointers.
"She's a versatile player," New Glarus coach Megan Scheele said of Rear. "She can shoot it from the outside. She's a big body who can get to the basket or post up. That's hard for a team to defend. I can't take anything away from her. She played a great game."
The Glarner Knights (7-12, 1-7) stayed within striking distance as New Glarus junior Alycia Atwell scored five of her team-high 17 points in the first quarter. The Knights trailed just 13-8 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats scored nine unanswered points in the second quarter and used a 16-1 run to open up a commanding 20-point lead. Rear scored inside to ignite the run and she scored on a layup to culminate the surge to give the Wildcats a 29-9 lead with 4 minutes, 27 seconds to go in the second quarter. William Freidig said scoring 39 points on 34 possessions to build a 39-17 halftime lead was an excellent start.
"That is what we want - one point per possession," he said. "It's the start you want in a rivalry game like this."
The Knights had no answer for the Wildcats to start the third quarter. Belleville freshman Haven Freidig and Rear each knocked down 3-pointers to extend the Wildcats' lead to 45-19. The Wildcats led by 31-points, 52-21 headed into the fourth quarter. New Glarus was also plagued by 24 turnovers.
"Our defense kind of wasn't there tonight," Scheele said. "We couldn't get a stop. It wasn't our night. It's frustrating."
The Knights outscored the Wildcats 21-10 in the fourth quarter. New Glarus senior Chelsea Holler scored 11 points and senior Lauren Narveson scored all seven of her points in the second half.
"Our mindset in the fourth quarter changed," Scheele said. "I said, 'Hey, we are down. We need to take some risks and take the ball to the basket and shoot if we are open.' They attacked the basket in the fourth quarter and got to the line. They showed they could play in the fourth quarter. I know they can do it."
