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Janesville Parker rallies behind free throws, other scores

JANESVILLE — Janesville Parker used the free-throw line as a springboard in rallying to defeat Madison East, 55-45, in a Big Eight girls basketball finale here Thursday night.

After an abysmal first half, the Vikings solved the Purgolders’ zone by attacking via the high post and went 16-for-19 from the stripe in the fourth quarter.

“I was so proud that we came back after a pretty demoralizing first half,” Parker coach Tom Klawitter said.

After trailing 27-16 at the break, Parker (17-5, 15-3) rattled off runs of 17-0, 8-0 and 7-0 in the second half to overtake East (13-9, 12-6) and finish a game behind co-champions Middleton and Verona in the Big Eight.

The 7-0 spurt was triggered by a three-pointer from left of the circle by junior Savannah Shepler, who led Parker with 13 points. Kaynesha Zinn, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, capped the run with a pair of free throws that got the Vikings within five at 28-23 midway through the third quarter.

“The first two minutes of the third quarter was the most important part of the game—it really set the tone,” Shepler said.

After the teams traded baskets, Zinn opened the 17-0 surge with a three-pointer from the right wing. On the next possession, the 5-10 senior forward caught an entry pass at the free-throw line, turned and fired a jump pass to freshman post Ashley Hartwig, who scored uncontested.

“We were so bothered in the first half that we weren’t making shots,” Klawitter said, “that all of a sudden we couldn’t see anything on the offensive end. The high post was open pretty much all night.”

Zinn and Hartwig took advantage of the crucial real estate at the free-throw line in the final 16 minutes, getting touches at the stripe at will.

The third quarter concluded with the Vikings down just 33-32. They took their first lead at 35-33 when sophomore Julia Dement drove and skipped a pass to the right corner where teammate Danielle Flood, swished a three-pointer.

The 17-0 run lasted nearly a quarter’s length at 6 minutes, 47 seconds, and concluded when Hartwig hit one of two free throws, giving Parker a 42-33 lead with 3:58 to play.

A Makailah Dyer deuce capped a 5-0 Purgolders run that kept things close at 42-38. But that basket was the aberration in the standout junior’s rough-shooting night.

“Dyer barely ever has a game like that. Let’s be real,” East coach Kay Galuska said. “Every shot was in and out—and they were good shots. That’s not going to happen to her again.”

The Vikings responded to the spurt with an 8-0 run comprised entirely of free throws. Shepler hit all six of her attempts during the 76-second stretch, and senior Kathryn Pernot also hit both of her throws.

“We needed those free throws,” Shepler said. “They were important, clutch free throws. After they had the momentum in the first half, I knew we needed to get it back anyway we possible could. If I had to make free throws, I was going to make free throws.”

Hartwig finished second in scoring for Parker with 11 points and added seven rebounds.

“It’s a long season for a young freshman, and this was a good game for her,” Klawitter said. “It was a game where she was smart and got herself into position to go to work and do some things.”

The Purgolders opened the game on a 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by junior Nyakour Deang, who hit three three-pointers and had a game-high 15 points. But she was held to just five in the second half, and the Vikings pulled out a win that Klawitter hopes will have some staying power.

“That’s the kind of thing you have to go into the postseason with,” Klawitter said. “It’s an awesome scenario to show that you can come back.”

PARKER 55, EAST 45

East (45)—Deang, 5-2-15; Dyer, 4-3-11; Jackson, 1-0-2; Daniels, 2-0-4; Hudkins, 1-2-4; Clair, 3-0-9. Totals: 16-7-45.

Parker (55)—Franklin, 1-1-3; Pernot, 0-2-2; Flood, 3-1-8; Dement, 2-2-6, Kenerson, 1-0-2; Hartwig, 5-1-11; Shepler 1-10-13; Zinn, 2-5-10. Totals: 15-22-55.

Madison East 13 14 6 12—45

Janesville Parker 8 8 16 23—55

Three-point goals—East 6 (Deang 3, Clair 3), Parker 3 (Flood, Shepler, Zinn). Free throws missed—East 1, Parker 7. Total fouls—East 21, Parker 7.

-- La Follette 55, Sun Prairie 49—Adriana Stephens scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Lancers (6-16, 5-13) to the win.

Paige Albi had 19 points to lead the Cardinals (5-16, 4-14).

LA FOLLETTE 55, SUN PRAIRIE 49

La Follette (55)—La Plant, 6; Stephens, 21; Vial, 2; Singh, 2; Glode, 14; Schwartzer, 10. Totals: 19-12-55.

Sun Prairie (49)—Rodenkirch, 7; Albi, 19; Yentz, 11; Hoffmann, 11; Baldwin, 1. Totals: 17-13-49.

La Follette 9 18 15 13—55

Sun Prairie 9 10 11 19—49

Three-point goals—La Follette 5 (Glode 3, Stephens 2), Sun Prairie 2 (Rodenkirch 2). Free throws missed—La Follette 2, Sun Prairie 9. Total fouls—La Follette 18, Sun Prairie 17.

-- Verona 50, Memorial 46—The Wildcats rallied in the fourth quarter to earn a share of the Big Eight Conference title with Middleton.

Ali Tackett had 20 points to lead Verona (19-3, 16-2), which trailed 32-31 after three quarters.

Taryn Olson had 14 points to lead the Spartans (4-16, 3-15).

VERONA 50, MEMORIAL 46

Memorial (46)—Henderson, 6; Jost, 6; Burnette, 5; Beld, 4; Olson, 14; Golz, 11. Totals: 18-5-46.

Verona (50)—Stone, 4; Witte, 3; Tackett, 20; Zwaga, 13; Pfeffer, 10. Totals: 19-11-50.

Memorial 9 11 12 14—46

Verona 15 10 6 19—50

Three-point goals—Memorial 5 (Golz 3, Beld, Burnette), Verona 1 (Witte). Free throws missed—Memorial 3, Verona 2. Total fouls—Memorial 11, Verona 10.

-- Middleton 75, West 44—Rachael Gardner led four players in double figures with 15 points as the Cardinals tied for the Big Eight Conference title.

Middleton (19-3, 16-2) led 40-22 at halftime.

Breanna Ward had 11 points to lead West (6-15, 5-13).

MIDDLETON 75, WEST 44

Middleton (75)—Passini, 7; Rongestad, 5; Ripp, 3; Kern, 2; Gunderson, 2; Andrews, 2; Gardner, 15; Williams, 14; Eklund, 13; Flynn, 11; Dolan, 1. Totals: 30-10-75.

West (44)—Jackson, 9; McClarn, 6; Sieben, 5; Dickerson, 3; Cox, 3; Steinmann, 2; Rasmussen, 2; Chitwood, 2; Ward, 11; Burrell, 1. Totals: 18-7-44.

Middleton 21 19 18 17—75

Madison West 10 12 12 10—44

Three-point goals—Middleton 5 (Williams 2, Gardner, Ripp, Passini), West 1 (Dickerson). Free throws missed—Middleton 7, West 10. Total fouls—Middleton 14, West 13.