• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Cougars bounce out of regional

OREGON — The Janesville Craig High School girls came out swinging Saturday in a WIAA Division 1 regional basketball final against Oregon.

The Cougars’ physical play took an early toll on their inside players who got into first-quarter foul trouble and the Panthers took an early lead they turned into a 66-43 victory.

Oregon (16-5) advances to a Badger Sectional semifinal against Verona (17-4) this Friday at Beloit College’s Flood Arena.

The Cougars, plagued all season with slow starts, fell behind 5-0 against Oregon, but came back to take a 9-8 lead before the Panthers closed out the first quarter with a 12-4 run to take a 20-13 lead.

With both Anne Morgan and Emily Hinman in early foul trouble, Oregon went to work under- neath and ended the first half with 36-21 lead.

Oregon’s Laura Atkinson, a 6-foot senior, was dominating underneath and from the three-point arc. She led all scorers with 18 points, including four three-point baskets.

“That’s what a senior team looks like,” said Craig coach Mark Marsden. “We made a couple of small runs at them, but they are a much better team. We simply had nothing to counteract their big players.”

After scoring only five points in the third quarter, the Cougars came out strong in the final period and outscored Oregon 9-2 in the first 2:30 of the quarter. But despite outscoring Oregon 17-14 to close out the game, there was too much ground to make up.

Despite a disappointing 7-15 season, Marsden can look to a more veteran team next year.

“We are a young team, and we’ll continue to be a relatively young team next year,” Marsden said.

OREGON 66, CRAIG 43

Craig (43)—Morgan, 4-3-11; Kennedy, 1-2-4; W. Storbakken, 3-1-9; Hinman, 1-1-3; Marshick, 2-1-5; T. Storbakken, 2-0-5; McGrath, 0-1-1; Oliver, 1-0-2; Hamilton, 1-0-3; Totals: 15-9-43.

Oregon (66)—Crowley, 1-1-3; Atkinson, 6-2-18; Kari Hanson, 3-6-12; Cook, 5-1-11; Kleitsch, 3-6-12; Kelly Hanson, 4-1-9; Noyce, 0-1-1. Totals: 22-18-66.

Janesville Craig 13 8 5 17—43

Oregon 20 16 16 14—66

Three-point goals—Craig 4 (W. Storbakken 2, T. Storbakken, Hamilton). Oregon 4 (Atkinson 4). Free throws missed—Craig 10, Oregon 6. Total fouls—Craig 18, Oregon 17.