MIDDLETON — Albany-Monticello’s constant full-court press claimed another victim, and this time it led directly to the Space Stallions advancing to the WIAA Division 4 state tournament. On Saturday, March 7, AM ran Pardeeville out of the Middleton High School gym, 60-30.
“We knew with a team like this, we had to pounce early,” AM head coach Derik Doescher said. “And to be able to get into our press, we’ve got to make shots. If we don’t make shots, we can’t get into our full court press like we’d like to. Once we get into our press, we can just wear them down and wear them down.”
The senior-laden Pardeeville Bulldogs (26-2) had just one loss on the season coming into the game — in the second-to-last game of the regular season to Abundant Life Christian (20-6), a team AM (26-2) soundly defeated by 17 points in the regional semifinal round. Pardeeville, the Trailways West champion, had used its veteran lineup and strong post play to waltz through the season. The Bulldogs’ top scorers on the year, seniors Ava Wagner (6-0) and Bronte Hulberg (5-10) came into the game averaging 19.5 and 17.5 points per game, respectively. The Space Stallions held the pair to just 11 total points combined.
“I know it sounds cliché, but it really comes down to effort. Anybody can play defense, but you’ve got to have that grit, you’ve got to have that effort,” Doescher said. He put his smallest starter, senior team captain Molly Olson, listed at 5-foot-4, on Hulburg. “We’ll put Molly on anybody, we don’t care, because she’s going to have that grit and that effort.”
Pardeeville’s only lead of the game came after a foul just 29 seconds after tip off thanks to a pair of free throws. Less than 30 seconds later, the lead was gone for good. Sophomore Emma Thompson scored back-to-back buckets to open AM’s scoring, then senior Emerson Briggs hit a 3-pointer off a drive-and-kick pass from Heidi Olson to make it 7-2 just three minutes into the game. Moments later, Pardeeville committed its fourth turnover in a row on a steal by Molly Olson, which immediately led to a second Briggs 3-pointer and a 10-2 AM advantage.
Bulldogs coach Joe Guenther called a timeout at the 14:03 mark, leading the Space Stallion faithful to erupt in jubilee at the early scoring run.
Pardeeville made the next basket to bring it to 10-4 with 12:09 left. AM responded with a second 10-0 run, with threes made by sophomore Raegan Hollis and freshman Annie Olson. Guenther used his second timeout with 9:12 left in the half trailing 20-4. AM’s team speed and up-and-down the court style had exhausted the Bulldogs. By the time the two teams dashed for the locker room at halftime, the Space Stallions led 31-12. Pardeeville had committed 11 turnovers and Hulberg had three fouls to her name. The Bulldogs also missed every 3-point try, with each attempted shot seemingly more desperate than the last.
“I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that they’re tired. They had no legs left,” Doescher said.
In the locker room, he told his squad to not get complacent and that there was still another 18 minutes left to play.
“He just reminded us that there’s a lot of game left, and they’re seniors, too, so they are going to fight; they’re not giving up,” Briggs said. “He said just to live off of our defense, continue to play free on offense, because that’s what we’ve been showing, and it’s working, so don’t let up.
The second half mirrored the first, with AM running its advantage up to 30 points with about 12 minutes left. Pardeeville’s deficit reached as much as 33. The bench reserves for both teams entered with just over two minutes remaining. For both teams, it was a chance to let some of their younger, less experienced players get a taste of action in a meaningful game. One player for Albany-Monticello took full advantage: Freshman Piper Patchen. With 63 seconds to play, she drained a three-pointer for her first basket of the season — the last player on the AM roster that hadn’t scored this year.
Overall, the Space Stallions had among the most balanced scoring possible. Nine of the 10 players on the roster scored, with eight finishing with at least six points. Molly Olson led the way with 11 thanks to a 5-for-5 run at the free throw line. Emersen Butts added 10 points and Heidi Olson nine. Butts also grabbed seven rebounds. Molly Olson finished with three steals, and Butts, Olson and Briggs each had four assists. AM assisted on 19 of 21 baskets.
“We live and die by the word ‘TEAM.’ This is such an unselfish group, and it showed again today with stats like that,” Doescher said. “They always make the extra pass. We always talk about giving up a good shot for a great shot. You might have a good shot, but give it up to your teammate for a great look. Every single girl on our team is willing to do that.”
Briggs said she could hardly sleep before the sectional final, and said that catching Zzz’s may be hard again this week, too.
“I’m still shaking. I couldn’t fall asleep before this, and I probably won’t be able to again,” she said, smiling.
