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Janesville Craig snaps losing streak

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Amanda Hamilton is off to the races with a steal and Beloit's Danielle Heldt in pursuit. Hamilton made the layup and was fouled for a 3-point play.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Ally Marshick battles Beloit Memorial's Artasia Gill for a rebound.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Taylor Storbakken shoots with Beloit's Chelsey Hankins in her face.

JANESVILLE — The Janesville Craig High girls broke a seven-game losing streak Thursday night with a strong 59-44 regular-season ending win over Beloit Memorial.

Craig (7-11 in Big Eight, 8-14 overall) opens regional play at Kenosha Tremper on Tuesday night. The contest will be a rematch of last year’s tournament game won by Tremper.

Four of the last seven Craig losses were without three starters benched for violating team rules. Craig coach Mark Marsden had a full roster Tuesday. He received a four-quarter game from all his starters, except Kelsey Kennedy, who was still suffering from the flu and had little playing time.

“One of our problems all season is playing a complete game,” Marsden said. “We seemed to have at least one quarter when we would let down. That was not a problem tonight.”

The Cougars never trailed after taking a 4-2 lead.

The Cougars were led offensively by 5-foot-6 senior guard Whitney Oliver, who scored a career-high 24 points. Her backcourt teammate, 5-4 junior Amanda Hamilton, added 13.

Beloit’s team leader, Megan Slavish, a 5-10 senior who pumped in 20 points when the two teams met earlier this year, led the Knights with 10.

“She earned those 10,” Marsden said. “Earlier they were a little cold so we could stay in that zone, but when they started hitting we had to go man. I was a little worried, but (Ally) Marshick did a really good job on Slavish with help from (Michelle) Straw and (Emily) Legreid.”

Marsden said Whitney Oliver gave the Tremper scouts watching Tuesday’s game something to think about.

“They’re wondering what the heck they’re going to be going up against,” Marsden said. “We showed several offensive weapons tonight, and we have a defense or two we did not have to show.”

The Craig-Kenosha Tremper regional game starts at 7 p.m. in the Tremper gym. The winner travels to Verona to take on the Wildcats.

CRAIG 59, BELOIT 44

Beloit (44)—Hankins, 2-0-4; Han. Lawver, 3-0-8; Heldt, 2-5-9; Slavish, 4-2-10; Mauel, 2-1-5; Gill, 1-1-3; Hai. Lawver, 2-0-5. Totals: 16-9-44.

Craig (59)—W. Oliver, 9-2-24; Hamilton, 3-6-13; Morgan, 2-5-9; Hinman, 1-4-6; L. Oliver, 1-0-3; Marshick, 2-0-4. Totals: 18-17-59.

Beloit Memorial 10 15 10 9—44

Janesville Craig 16 16 13 14—59

Three-point goals—Beloit 3 (Han. Lawver 2, Hail. Lawver), Craig 6 (W. Oliver 4, Hamilton, L. Oliver). Free throws missed—Beloit 6, Craig 6. Beloit 20, Craig 15.

Sophomores—Craig 79, Beloit 23. Craig finishes 21-0 overall and 18-0 in the Big Eight; Craig leading scorers: Christy Crandall, 11; Emilie O’Donnell, 10; Kylee Kennedy, 10; Katie Villa, 10.