Chris Caporale sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader photo by Chris Caporale Shawano’s Morgan Klitzke and Sydney Schreiber defend Oconto Falls sophomore Kennedy Kratz while Brandi Gueths defends Jenny Krueger in the post in Tuesday’s 45-33 victory.
Playing on back-to-back nights, the Shawano girls basketball team showed signs of fatigue throughout Tuesday’s nonconference game in Oconto Falls.
In the end, the Hawks were able to get to the free throw line 27 times on the night, including eight makes on 10 attempts in the final three minutes of the game to extend the lead for a 45-33 victory.
“The biggest difference in the game was the free throw line,” Oconto Falls head coach Mike Kaczmarek Jr. said of Shawano’s 23 made free throws. “They outscored us by like 20 at the free throw line. We’re not going to win too many games like that.”
The Panthers, who have now lost four straight games, made all seven of their attempted free throws in the game.
Shawano started slow in the game, managing just 5 points in the first seven minutes of the game before getting to the free throw line.
Shawano head coach Ryan Koenig blamed the slow start on having to play games on two consecutive nights.
“We were a little slower because we played the night before, but honestly, it was really good, intense defense again,” Koenig said.
The Hawks (7-3) have now held opponents below 35 points in consecutive games as part of a five-game win streak as they head into a short break.
Morgan Klitzke sparked the Hawks’ offense, hitting three 3-point field goals in the first half, including back-to-back baskets after Bailey Wolf had put the Panthers ahead by 1 point with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Klitzkle then added nine more points in the second half for her game-high 18 points to go along with a team-high six rebounds.
Oconto Falls (2-7) senior Jenny Krueger led the team with 17 points, scoring nearly half of the team’s points in the loss.
“The communicating, the tipped passes and deflections, that accounts for a lot of it, and then holding them to one shot,” Koenig said.
Megan Klitzke posted four assists and three steals, as Teagan Monfils added two steals in the victory for Shawano.
Oconto Falls’ 33 points was their highest output in a game since Dec. 8 when it posted 54 points in a victory over North Eastern Conference foe Waupaca.
The fourth-year coach wanted the past two games to act as preparation for late in the season, specifically the WIAA Division 2 regionals in the spring in which his team could have to play on consecutive days.
“We are hopefully doing that, so it’s a good way to end the first half of the year,” Koenig said. “Coming back, now we know what to expect and how to get there.”
Shawano (45)
Monfils 0 2-2 2, Mo. Klitzke 4 6-6 18, Me. Klitzke 1 8-11 10, Schreiber 0 1-2 1, To. DePerry 1 2-2 4, Hokenstad 2 0-0 5, Gueths 0 2-2 2, Dunnam 1 2-2 4.
Oconto Falls (33)
Kratz 1 0-0 3, Helmle 0 2-2 2, Donart 1 0-0 3, Wolf 2 2-2 6, Steffens 1 0-0 2, Krueger 7 3-3 17.
Shawano 18 27 — 45
Oconto Falls 13 20 — 33