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Parker vs Badger Girls Sectional Semifinal

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BELOIT — Not even a rough start could derail the Janesville Parker girls basketball express Friday night.

The Vikings got 27 points from senior Catie O’Leary and overcame two points in the first four minutes en route to a 66-42 win over Lake Geneva Badger in the WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinals.

Parker High (17-5) gets another crack at Big Eight Conference rival Verona (18-4) in tonight’s 7 o’clock sectional final game at Flood Arena. The Wildcats, 58-45 winners over Oregon in the other sectional semifinal, denied the Vikings a state-record 13th state appearance last year in the sectional finals.

With Badger (15-8) opening in a triangle-and-two defense, Parker endured a sluggish start. The Vikings trailed 7-5 with 3:23 left in the opening quarter, but they hit the Badgers with a 10-0 run to end the first period, capped off by China Franklin’s putback with 18 seconds left.

Parker coach Tom Klawitter said his team’s ability to get out on the break paid big dividends.

“As soon as we got a couple of baskets off our fast break, I thought that really loosened things up for us,” he said. “We started shooting the ball better, and our post people did a nice job of not only getting good looks down low, but putting the ball in the basket, as well.

“Before Catie got going, I thought our posts kept us going and helped maintain the lead.”

Once O’Leary got rolling, it was all but over for the Badgers. The Loyola University of Chicago recruit had 15 points in the first half, including a quick four to start the second quarter to push Parker’s lead to 14. The Vikings outscored the Badgers, 20-14, in the second quarter and led 35-21 at half. Badger got no closer than 12 the second half.

Badger coach Mike Giovingo knew his team had to find a way to try to contain O’Leary. But after his top defender, Leah Rempert, picked up three first-half fouls, the Badgers were in trouble.

“It’s hard to deny that talent, and she’s a true talent,” Giovingo said of O’Leary. “I thought we had something going on in the first quarter because we came out with a defense we put in this week, but once they figured out what we were doing, they started going backdoor on us and got a lot of easy baskets.

“And we kind of live and die by the three, and the first half they just weren’t falling. Maybe playing on a bigger court had something to do with it.”

After leading by 14 at half, Parker coasted the rest of the way. An O’Leary three-pointer and basket by Jenna Miland pushed the lead to 19 early in the third quarter, and the Vikings ended the period with a 10-4 run in taking a 54-34 lead.

The blowout allowed Klawitter to empty his bench midway through the fourth quarter, and hopefully, save a little in his team’s tank for tonight.

“Jane (Dooley) and Brent (Corey) did a great job of subbing tonight, and that may mean some fresh legs tomorrow,” Klawitter said. “I hope these two teams (Verona and Oregon) beat each other up this (Friday’s second) game so they’re dead tired tomorrow.

“We’ve given ourselves a chance, and that’s all you want,” Klawitter said of playing for a state berth.

Danielle Flood scored 10 points for Parker, while Rempert led the Badgers with 12 before fouling out.

PARKER 66, BADGER 42

Badger (42)—Ambrose, 4-1-9; Rempert, 4-4-12; Toledo, 3-2-8; Stewart, 0-2-2; Reuss, 1-2-5; Fronberry, 1-0-2; Ketchpaw, 1-0-2; Reek, 0-1-1; Quinn, 0-1-1. Totals: 14-13-42.

Parker (66)—O’Leary, 10-4-27; Flood, 4-1-10; Shepler, 2-3-7; Miland, 2-0-4; Prokopec, 1-0-3: McDonald, 3-0-6; Zinn, 2-1-5; Franklin, 1-1-3; Pernot, 0-1-1. Totals: 25-11-66.

Lake Geneva Badger 7 14 13 8—42

Janesville Parker 15 20 19 12—66

Three-point baskets—Badger 1 (Reuss), Parker 5 (O’Leary 3, Flood, Prokopec). Free throws missed—Badger 5, Parker 10. Total fouls—Badger 20, Parker 19 . Fouled out—Rempert.