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Parker girls show no signs of a letdown against East

JANESVILLE — It's was a makeup Big Eight Conference girls basketball game on a Monday night at the tail end of January.

The Parker Vikings, 13-1 overall and 11-0 in the Big Eight, were welcoming the Madison East Purgolders, 1-14 and 0-11. It's was a good excuse to take the night off.

It would be understandable, but absolutely unacceptable for coach Tom Klawitter and the No. 5 state-ranked Vikings.

Instead, Parker stood proud on Parents Night, ripping East, 87-26, and demonstrated why it has lost only one game this season. Parker improved to 14-1 and a perfect 12-0 in the Big Eight.

"The only thing that bothers you about these kind of games is the letdown," Klawitter said. "I think we are playing really well right now, and I just don't want to see our momentum go anywhere but up."

Parker kept its eye on victory.

"Regardless of where (East) is at and where we are at, anybody that saw the game, has got to be pretty pleased with the team effort," Klawitter said. "I really thought we were looking for each other."

Parker quickly washed away any hint of a letdown, rolling to a 26-5 first-quarter lead.

Kathryn Dubanowich, Dani Fugate and Morgan McCulloch scored six points apiece.

The Vikings held a 47-15 halftime lead, raking up a 10-0 run in the second frame on five straight steals to highlight the quarter.

It was a good night for the parents, as all 11 Vikings scored. Ashley Hartwig scored 18 points, Paige Smith added 11 while Dubanowich and Fugate chipped in 10 points each.

Losing only once this season doesn't surprise for Klawitter.

"I don't know if it's a surprise," Klawitter said. "They were very capable and we won some games that maybe were close that could have gone either way. They are just kind of a group that finds a way."

A victory over East may not rank as a big deal, but under the circumstances, Klawitter is happy with the Vikings approach to it.

"I'm not surprised they are playing as a team, because they are a pretty close group," Klawitter said. "This is exactly what you want to find in a game like this is they really can do things well when they play as a team."

Parker plays at Beloit at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and at East at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

PARKER 87, EAST 26

East (26)—Morrison, 0-1-1; A. James, 1-0-2; Ottelien, 1-0-2; Justice, 7-3-17; Birnhak, 2-0-4. Totals: 11-4-26.

Parker (87)—Foster, 1-2-4; Wyss, 1-0-2; Randles, 1-2-4; Shepler, 3-1-8; Smith, 5-0-11; Dubanowich, 5-0-10; Fugate, 4-2-10; Thompson, 1-4-7; Hartwig, 6-6-18. Totals: 32-19-87.

Madison East 5 10 5 6—26

Janesville Parker 26 21 16 24—87

Three-point goals—Parker 4 (Shepler, Smith, Thompson, McCulloch). Free throws missed—East 5, Parker 4.