After Ellsworth’s girls basketball team took just a two-point lead into the halftime intermission, the Panthers dialed up the defense in the second half, which turned into easy transition offense and led to a 52-39 victory at home against Saint Croix Central on Thursday, Jan. 19.

Perhaps no players on Ellsworth’s roster played better defense in the second half than juniors Molly Janke, who tallied five steals, and Maria Harrington, who guarded Central’s best player all night.

Their defense added to an already solid team performance that led to the double-digit win over the Middle Border Conference foe. With the win, Ellsworth improved to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in league play, which moved the Panthers into a three-way tie for third place with Baldwin-Woodville and Altoona. Prescott and Somerset remain in first and second place respectively.

For Ellsworth head coach Jason Janke, seeing his team play well in the second half against a well-coached Saint Croix Central team was a sight for sore eyes. The Panthers played well throughout the contest, even without sophomore starting forward Morgan Halverson, who missed the game with an ankle sprain. Janke spoke about the win.

“I don’t know if there was a key so much as they really dialed it up on defense and made sure (Central) only got one shot,” Janke said. “There was a good share of minutes where they went one-and-done and I always feel like that’s the difference with this team.”

While Ellsworth certainly locked in throughout those final 18 minutes, the aforementioned Harrington played a complete game that included 11 points on 4-7 shooting from the floor, while also playing elite defense.

Harrington had seven in the first half, including a three-point play the old-fashioned way. Her four points in the final 18 minutes came at critical times, as Harrington scored in transition after Ellsworth’s defense forced Saint Croix Central turnovers. She also tallied three rebounds, one assist and a steal in the win. Janke spoke about Harrington’s performance.

“Without Morgan (Halverson), Maria probably played 34 out of 36 minutes. She’s been one of the kids that we always know what we’re getting,” Jason Janke said. “Any coach worth their salt would say you’ve got to have a team where you know what you’re getting. We get six to 12 points and even if we only get four, we’re still getting such great defense. Every coach would love to have Maria Harrington.”

After taking a 22-20 into the break, Ellsworth began the second half on an 11-4 run that included a layup and a wing three-pointer by junior guard Aubrey Wittenberg, two layups by Molly Janke, and a slashing finish by junior guard Ava Brookshaw.

By the time the Panthers’ scoring surge ended, Ellsworth had a 31-24 lead with just over 13 minutes to play in the second half. Even as Saint Croix Central made small runs throughout the second half, Ellsworth quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback.

Whether it was Molly Janke grabbing one of her team-high five steals or junior center Kayla Kressin grabbing one of her team-high nine rebounds, Ellsworth always had an answer. The Panthers’ suffocating defense led to the 52-39 victory. Jason Janke spoke about Kressin’s interior game which is all too often underrated.

“We have some kids that people would die to have on their team,” Janke said. “She comes up with offensive rebounds at times when I literally can’t even see her, but I always know it’s her. And her inside defense, she’s long and very smart. She always figures out how to get two or three steals and they’re typically critical at the end of the game. She’s just phenomenal.”

Ellsworth managed to pull off the victory against a scrappy, well-coached Central team without the aforementioned Halverson, who will likely miss a week with a high ankle sprain. Halverson got hurt during the 74-63 loss on the road against New Richmond on Monday, Jan. 16.

“She went down during the New Richmond game,” Janke said. “It looks like a little bit of a high sprain, but we’re not really sure. She is getting it looked at again on Monday. Realistically we’ll have to be without her for another week I’d imagine.”

For coach Janke, the key to playing and winning games without an impact starter like Halverson revolves around other players stepping up, just as they did against Saint Croix Central. Wittenberg hit some big shots, senior guard Ashlyn Townsend played valuable minutes, Harrington played excellent on both ends of the floor and so did Brookshaw.

“Ashlyn (Townsend), Aubrey Wittenberg and Ava (Bookshaw) all stepped up,” Janke said. “They played well tonight. Anytime somebody gets hurt, you have to step up. Those kids in particular did that.”

Ellsworth will be back in action almost certainly without Halverson when the Panthers host Altoona on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Tipoff for that contest was scheduled for 7 p.m.

Ellsworth junior guard Ava Brookshaw swings a pass to the corner during the first half against Saint Croix Central. Ellsworth head coach Jason Janke said Brookshaw was one of the players who stepped up Thursday night with Halverson’s absence. Photo by Reagan Hoverman