Prescott finishes perfect 12-0 in conference play

[email protected] The Prescott girls’ basketball team continued their cruise through the conference schedule. The Cardinals entered the week with a perfect 9-0 record in the Middle Border Conference, and were scheduled to face the bottom three teams in the conference in Osceola, St. Croix Central and Amery. In their first games against these three teams, Prescott won each game by 40 or more points. This time, Prescott was set to face each team with a very short bench. Against Osceola, the Cardinals had just seven players, and against St. Croix Central, Prescott dressed just six players.

“Five varsity players with COVID-19 shut them down until February 4th,” explained Rob Radloff on why the Amery game was cancelled. Prescott beat Amery 72-15 earlier in the season.

Prescott dominated the Osceola Cheiftains in every facet of the game, leading 38-22 at halftime that led to an easy 83-43 victory. The Cardinals shot over 45% from the field, including and 42.3% from three-point range. Although shorthanded, Prescott dominated the glass with 42 rebounds. They also had 16 steals and eight blocks in the game.

Bella Lenz led the way with another outstanding night. Lenz was 15-25 from the field, 8-14 from threepoint range, finishing with 40 points, 13 rebounds and six steals. Nicole Dalman added 15 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Sydney Matzek chipped in with nine points. Lila Posthuma added seven points and four blocks. Erin Boatman scored five points, while Tori Benck added four points, five assists and four steals. Brynley Goerhing scored three points.

The first-place Cardinals would then take on last-place St. Croix Central. They had not lost a conference game all season, while St. Croix Central was winless in conference play. Prescott started slowly, trailing 2-0 until the 15:58 mark of the first half when Posthuma got them on the board to tie the score at 2-2. Prescott took a modest lead of 14-8 with 12:28 remaining in the first half. The Cardinals went on a 31-2 run over the next 8:18 to take a 45-10 lead, ending any chance of an upset. The Cardinals continued to dominate in all phases, taking an enormous 57-15 halftime lead. The second half was more of the same as Prescott won with ease, 103-39. Once again, Prescott’s defense gave them several easy baskets and ran at will all night. Prescott shot 47-79, or 59.5%, from the field in the game. The Cardinals grabbed 35 rebounds and had 21 steals.

Lenz again lead the way offensively with 31 points, six rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Dalman added 21 points and seven rebounds, while Matzek had 21 points, five assists, and four steals. Benck chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds, six assists, and seven steals. Goerhing recorded nine points and six rebounds. Posthuma finished with six points and eight rebounds.

“It is so great to see our seniors have a great year. Sydney (Matzek) played great, seemed relaxed and looked like she was having fun,” Coach Radloff said after Matzek’s breakout performance. _ “We are back to full strength as of yesterday,” stated Coach Radloff over the weekend before Monday night’s home game against New Richmond, a 50-37 win over the Middle Border Conference’s second ranked team to clinch the Middle Border Conference Championship.

The Cardinals were in action again Tuesday night with a non-conference home game against Menomonie after the printing of this publication.

Photo from Prescott Girls Basketball Facebook page.

Photo by Gaylen Bicking.

Lila Posthuma looked to feed the ball into Tori Benck in Prescott’s game against Osceola last week.