LENZ SETS SCHOOL SCORING MARK

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The Cardinals welcomed the second place New Richmond Tigers to the Nest on the first day of February for the biggest game of the year. A Prescott win would clinch a second straight Middle Border Conference title. The Cardinals were undefeated last season in conference play and hadn’t lost this season in the conference. New Richmond came into the matchup with a 12-3 record and a 10-2 conference mark this season. In the first matchup, the Cardinals won 59-44. That night, Nicole Dalman lead Prescott with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

In the rematch, the Cardinals struggled out of the gate. Prescott was scoreless the first 4:39 until Lila Posthuma hit a short jump shot to get the Cardinals on the board, trailing 4-2. The next time down the floor, Dalman converted a three-point play to give Prescott its’ only lead of the half, 5-4. The Tigers held the Cardinals to a season low 13 first half points and held a 16-13 lead at the break. Prescott’s great defense and Dalman’s team-leading eight points kept Prescott in the game.

Posthuma again scored the first points of the second half on a three-point shot to tie the game at 16. Two minutes later, she hit another three-pointer to cut the New Richmond lead to 20-19. That three-point shot started a 12-3 Cardinals run to give them a 28-23 lead with 12:01 to play. The Tigers rallied with a run of their own over the next 4:05 to tie the game at 33 points. Posthuma then hit her third three-point shot of the half as Prescott took back the lead at 36-33. The shot seemed to give the Cardinals energy and they closed out the game on a 17-4 run to beat New Richmond 50-37, and win their second straight conference crown.

“New Richmond plays a tough, physical defense and scoring 13 in a half is not something we are used to. We made our half time adjustments and the girls responded well,” Coach Rob Radloff stated. _“It always takes some time for a freshman to feel comfortable. It was nice to see her shine and show what she is capable of,” Radloff said of Posthuma’s clutch shooting.

Posthuma scored 14 points on 5-8 shooting and 3-4 on three-point shots. Bella Lenz also scored 14 points with six rebounds and four steals. Dalman added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Tori Benck scored five points and recorded three steals. Sydney Matzek scored two points, while Brynley Goerhing added two points and six rebounds.

Prescott did not have too much time to celebrate. 24 hours later, they were back on the court against Menomonie in a non-conference match up. The Mustangs entered the game with a 7-7 record on the season. The Cardinals didn’t seem to care that they were playing up against a division one team, as they easily raced out to a 42-22 halftime lead. Prescott gave its bench some minutes in the second half as several players were able to add their names to the score sheet. Prescott beat Menomonie, 81-52. The Cardinals shot 35-66 or 53% from the field.

Senior standout Bella Lenz was amazing again as she led the way with 32 points and five rebounds. Posthuma had another big night with 16 points. Dalman scored 11 points with 13 rebounds and five assists. Benck added six points and four steals, while Sydney Matzek chipped in with five points and six assists. Goerhing scored three points and had three steals. Izzy Matzek and Rylie Radloff also added three points apiece. Erin Boatman scored two points.

On Friday night the Cardinals played their last regular season game of the year when they travelled to Baldwin-Woodville. While Prescott had already won the conference title for the 2020-2021 season, their 26-game conference unbeaten streak was still on the line. Baldwin-Woodville was 9-7 on the season and had played Prescott tough in their first game, a 63-56 Cardinal win. Bella Lenz led the way with 27 points and nine assists that night and the Prescott defense forced Baldwin-Woodville into 26 turnovers in the game.

The rematch would not be nearly as close. Prescott shutdown Baldwin-Woodville all night long. Prescott again had the game won at halftime, leading 31-12. Coach Radloff was again able to get his bench minutes in the second half, as 12 players saw action. The Cardinals win easily again, 59-29.

Lenz again led the way for Prescott with 20 points and four assists. Dalman added 10 points and six rebounds. Goerhing had eight points. Posthuma had six points and five rebounds. Benck scored six points. Radloff scored four points. Liz Rohl had three points. Sydney Matzek had

Photos by Gaylen Bicking.

Photo by Gaylen Bicking. two points.

The Cardinals finished the season undefeated in conference play at 13-0. They had one game cancelled against Amery due to COVID virus. Prescott finished the regular season on an 11-game win streak with a 17-2 mark overall.

The WIAA Sectional brackets have officially been announced. The Cardinals earned the second seed in a loaded sectional. The first seeded team is LaCrosse Aquinas. They are 17-0 and the number one ranked team in the state. The third seed is Durand and Arcadia is the fourth seed. Mondovi is the fifth seed and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau is the sixth seed. Durand plays Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau in the first round, and the winner will face Prescott Friday night at the Nest. The Arcadia versus Mondovi winner will play at Aquinas. The two winners Friday night will play in the section championship game.

“This is a favorite time of year for me. Tournament time always has great excitement. You spend all year preparing for it. We are ready,” Radloff stated emphatically. “The new seeding was not fair to the girls. We would have been better off playing in Division 2, but it is what it is. We have to win games and playing a team like Aquinas will challenge us, but we will be ready. Assuming we get by GET/Durand. There is not a team you take for granted this year.”

Photos by Gaylen Bicking.

Prescott seniors Sydney Matzek, Tori Benck, Isabella Lenz and Nicole Dalman.

At left, Nicole Dalman worked in the paint against Menomonie last Tuesday night. At right, handling the ball for the Cardinals was Brynley Goehring.