The Ellsworth Girls basketball team had grand plans for the week of WIAA Regional play, but Altoona Senior Guard Averie Varsho would have no one spoiling her final home game. Varsho hit four consecutive three-point baskets, drilling a fifth shortly after, as the Rails ran out to a 35-20 halftime lead in the first round of Regional play last week Tuesday.

“We really caught some tough breaks in the opening few minutes,” said Panther Coach Jason Janke, “we had two baskets drop that could have been three-point plays, but they went against us. Instead of being down, potentially 10 – 8, we were behind 10-2 and then Varsho hit another one of her early 3’s and just couldn’t find a way to get ‘all the way back’. She was about as hot out of the gate as I’ve ever seen a player. You have to give her credit, because we certainly weren’t giving her shots.”

The Panthers, of course, would not go away without a fight. Senior guard Autumn Earney went to work and paced the visitors with 14 first half points, and the girls in purple seemed poised for a second half comeback despite the unfriendly confines. Molly Janke, plagued with earlygame foul trouble, came out determined to earn more games with her senior teammates, as she went for 13 second-half points, adding to Earney’s charge, but it was not enough. The Rails continued to get points from Varsho and Daydrean Henrichs and made enough free throws down the stretch to keep the Panthers at bay, wrapping up a 72 – 53 victory. Altoona advanced to play New Richmond on February 12.

Earney led the Panthers with 27 points, with Janke pitching in 17. Brianna Giese added five. The Panthers worked to clean the backboards of rare Altoona misfires, as Lily Puhrmann and Janke finished with eight rebounds each and Earney grabbed another seven.

“Our kids have plenty to feel good about,” continued Janke, “first of all, to get 19 games in during the pandemic is fortunate and frankly, I think these kids will all look back on this season with a lot of pride and appreciation. I’ve coached a long time and have rarely seen the kind of 9-12 chemistry and camaraderie that our group has. There is such excitement and support for one another when an individual does something successfully, it’s really neat to be a part of. Much of that credit goes to Kaitlyn (Peterson), Autumn, Brianna and Lily. They are just awesome teammates. It says a lot about them to see the great relationships across the board on this team it’s just really neat.”

Though the Panther’s season has ended, we’ll get a wrap-up story soon, including an update on where Autumn Earney left the Ellsworth High School Basketball All-Time Scoring record.