Falls rides defense to regional title

FOND DU LAC – Freshman Staci Hasler scored a career-high 17 points to lead the Sheboygan Falls Falcons over the Kettle Moraine Lutheran Chargers 63-43 in a WIAA Division 2 regional final girls basketball playoff game Saturday, March 13.

The victory propelled the Falls squad to its first regional title in 31 years and its first regional championship under sixth-year head coach Leroy Hamilton.

The Falcons (18-7 overall) move on to face the Grafton Blackhawks (15-10 overall) in a WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal playoff game at West Bend Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m.

“We just played our butts off,” said Hamilton. “Hasler played one heck of game.

“The whole team worked so hard,” he said. “This feels so good, it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Hasler ignited Falls late in the first quarter, as the Chargers defense keyed on senior Falcon standouts Lauren Carman and Emilie Leffin.

“It’s just an amazing feeling,” said Leffin. “We were working well together. I’m very proud to have Hasler as a teammate.”

“Everybody did a great job to get this win,” said Carman. “We had a great all-around game from many players.”

Lutheran held its only lead at 12-9, with 1:19 left in the first quarter, but an offensive rebound by Carman and a driving lay-up from Hasler was all the Falcon scoring machine needed to get going.

Hasler was just getting started. With time running out, Hasler stole the ball and was fouled on an attempted a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The freshman made only 1-of-3 from the free throw line, but she came back later to erase any doubts of being nervous.

As the Falcons took a 14-13 lead into the second quarter, Hasler went to the glass time after time with three straight baskets to push Falls to a 20-13 advantage.

Junior Amanda Milne then penetrated the Charger defense off a steal from junior Brooke Buehler. Milne got fouled and converted both free throw attempts.

Falls ran the lead to nine points at 29-20, when Leffin scored on a pass from Carman and Hasler converted another breakaway.

The Falcons experienced some foul problems that kept Lutheran within striking distance. Michelle Dunnington of KML spent a lot of time at the foul line.

Falls weathered through the fouls and maintained a 44-33 lead, as Leffin scored six points to lead all scorers in the third quarter.

Leffin and junior Cassie Quirt carried the Falcons to a 49-33 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Quirt’s alley-oop bought the team off the bench, as she flung down a shot and was fouled. Her threepoint play to grow the Falls lead to 49-33.

With six minutes left in the game, Falls was sensing a trip to the next round and went on 14-6 run to finish the game.

Junior Brooke Buehler ran the offense without a mistake, scoring seven of the Falcons’ last 12 points. Hasler added five more points to the most memorable game of her young career.

“I just want to enjoy the game and contribute in whatever way I can,” said Hasler. “It feels so good be part of this team.”

The Falcons had four players reach double figures in scoring, led by Hasler’s 17 points, Leffin finished with 15, while Carman and Quirt had 11 points each.

Dunnington led the Chargers with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Marianne Loescher added 10 points and Abbey Hoershner made four assists.

GIRLS
BASKETBALL
SHEBOYGAN
FALLS	63
KETTLE
MORAINE 43

Score by Quarters
Sheboygan Falls….14 17 13 19 - 63
Kettle Moraine…....13 9 11 10 - 43
Sheboygan Falls scorers: Cassie Quirt 11, Brooke Buehler 7, Emilie Leffin 15, Staci Hasler 17, Lauren Carman 11,
Amanda Milne 2.
Kettle Moraine Lutheran scorers: Samantha Hoerchner 3, Abbey Hoershner 7, Karlee Schneiss 4, Michelle
Dunnington 12, Marianne Loescher 10, Laura Zeamer 7.
Three-point goals: Kettle Moraine Lutheran – S. Hoershner.
Statistics: Sheboygan Falls – field goals, free throws, rebounds, turnovers. Kettle Moraine – field goals 13-48 (27
percent), free throws 16-29 (55 percent), rebounds ___________________________ 31, turnovers 17.