JUDA - A 19-2 third-quarter run gave Juda all the momentum it needed to win its WIAA Division 4 playoff opener Tuesday. The second-seeded Panthers found themselves tied with seventh-seeded Williams Bay at halftime, 20-20, before rolling to a 55-35 victory.
"I knew it was going to be a tough game, because it was a seven-point game the first time we played them this year over Christmas break," head coach Curt Brown said. "We needed to make sure we'd be ready to play for 32 minutes."
The only adjustment the Panthers made at half was to stretch out its offense even further, in hopes of opening up the inside game. According to Brown, Williams Bay had been double- and triple-teaming Juda's top post players, sophomore Ellen Kiser and senior Heather Boeke.
"We had a couple of things we needed to change offensively - opening up the inside a little bit and make them come outside and guard us from shooting," he said.
Boeke and Kiser finished with a combined 22 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocked shots, while senior Larissa Klemm provided outside relief.
"When I'm hitting those shots then we can work it back inside," said Klemm, who finished with 16 points and five 3-pointers. "I love it when we work together as a team and we know where everybody is at."
Kiser said she enjoys playing with Klemm because she is always roaming the perimeter and can knock down shots. She also said she likes the way the Panthers play help defense.
"I know she's going to be out there and if I get her the ball she's going to shoot it. It really helped when the other girls stepped up and shot tonight," Kiser said. "I really enjoy help defense, I wouldn't be able to (get those blocks) without them."
Both teams found themselves ahead by as much as four in the first half, but Williams Bay hit two foul shots in the final 0.8 seconds to tie the game at halftime. The third-quarter run, in which the Panthers held Williams Bay without a field goal, changed the life of the game.
"We always have our dull moments and we need to figure out when to kick it up. We knew that this could be our last game, so we pumped it up together," Klemm said.
Juda slowed its offense to open the fourth, and Williams Bay responded with a 9-4 run to bring the difference back to 12. Boeke hit a shot in the paint with 3:50 to play and Klemm drilled her last 3 with 2:43 left to halt any momentum Williams Bay had gained.
"The game has kind of been microcosm of our season - we play well for a little while we kind of come back down to our opponents level. Our first quarter was great, then we kind of let up a little bit. We need to keep the pedal to the metal here in the playoffs, because this regional is pretty even, I think," Brown said. "The more pressure we bring, the better off we are, without a doubt."
The Panthers (12-11) forced Williams Bay (7-14) into 26 turnovers in the game.
Juda stunned the region by making their way into the regional final a year ago. This year, it is expected.
"We are expected to get there, but we ourselves expect to get there and it makes us more motivated," Klemm said.
The Panthers host third-seeded Albany (11-11) Thursday night in a rubber match. The two teams split the season series, with each game being won by the away team.
"We know we are going to have to be ready for a fight. We lost to (Albany) and we beat (Albany). It's going to be an even battle, but it's going to be nice to be at home - friendly rims," Brown said. "I just hope we show up and play. It will be a close game and I hope we can come out on top."
"I knew it was going to be a tough game, because it was a seven-point game the first time we played them this year over Christmas break," head coach Curt Brown said. "We needed to make sure we'd be ready to play for 32 minutes."
The only adjustment the Panthers made at half was to stretch out its offense even further, in hopes of opening up the inside game. According to Brown, Williams Bay had been double- and triple-teaming Juda's top post players, sophomore Ellen Kiser and senior Heather Boeke.
"We had a couple of things we needed to change offensively - opening up the inside a little bit and make them come outside and guard us from shooting," he said.
Boeke and Kiser finished with a combined 22 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocked shots, while senior Larissa Klemm provided outside relief.
"When I'm hitting those shots then we can work it back inside," said Klemm, who finished with 16 points and five 3-pointers. "I love it when we work together as a team and we know where everybody is at."
Kiser said she enjoys playing with Klemm because she is always roaming the perimeter and can knock down shots. She also said she likes the way the Panthers play help defense.
"I know she's going to be out there and if I get her the ball she's going to shoot it. It really helped when the other girls stepped up and shot tonight," Kiser said. "I really enjoy help defense, I wouldn't be able to (get those blocks) without them."
Both teams found themselves ahead by as much as four in the first half, but Williams Bay hit two foul shots in the final 0.8 seconds to tie the game at halftime. The third-quarter run, in which the Panthers held Williams Bay without a field goal, changed the life of the game.
"We always have our dull moments and we need to figure out when to kick it up. We knew that this could be our last game, so we pumped it up together," Klemm said.
Juda slowed its offense to open the fourth, and Williams Bay responded with a 9-4 run to bring the difference back to 12. Boeke hit a shot in the paint with 3:50 to play and Klemm drilled her last 3 with 2:43 left to halt any momentum Williams Bay had gained.
"The game has kind of been microcosm of our season - we play well for a little while we kind of come back down to our opponents level. Our first quarter was great, then we kind of let up a little bit. We need to keep the pedal to the metal here in the playoffs, because this regional is pretty even, I think," Brown said. "The more pressure we bring, the better off we are, without a doubt."
The Panthers (12-11) forced Williams Bay (7-14) into 26 turnovers in the game.
Juda stunned the region by making their way into the regional final a year ago. This year, it is expected.
"We are expected to get there, but we ourselves expect to get there and it makes us more motivated," Klemm said.
The Panthers host third-seeded Albany (11-11) Thursday night in a rubber match. The two teams split the season series, with each game being won by the away team.
"We know we are going to have to be ready for a fight. We lost to (Albany) and we beat (Albany). It's going to be an even battle, but it's going to be nice to be at home - friendly rims," Brown said. "I just hope we show up and play. It will be a close game and I hope we can come out on top."
