ASSUMPTION NAILS DOWN WIAA DIVISION 5 GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, EARNING 3RD TITLE IN NINE YEARS
Zaleski Sports
LA CROSSE – The Wisconsin Rapids Assumption girls basketball team is bringing home another gold ball.
Assumption made six of eight free throws in the final 3½ minutes, all while holding Three Lakes scoreless, to pull away for a 55-48 win in the WIAA Division 5 state championship game Thursday night at the La Crosse Center.
The state title is Assumption’s third WIAA crown, having also won championships in 2013 and 2016.
The Royals overcame a 3-5 start to the season and a two-week shutdown in January to win 13 of their final 16 games, including the six in a row needed to win a state title.
Three Lakes (20-6) overcame a 13-point deficit to tie the game at 44-44 on a 3-pointer by Kara Sowinski with 5:46 to go.
Emily Bohn scored off an offensive rebound with 4:54 remaining to put Assumption up 48-46 and the Royals never trailed again.
A layup by Sydney Lurvey with 3:46 left brought Three Lakes to within one again at 49-48, but the Bluejays would not score again.
Assumption didn’t make another basket from the floor either, but did its damage from the free three line.
The Royals went 6-for-8 from the line in the final 2:44, including Ainara Sainz de Rozas’ perfect 4-for-4 effort, to ice the win.
Bohn finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots, Jessie Grundhoffer added 15 points and Sainz de Rozas had 13 points for the Royals.
Assumption reached the championship game with a hard-fought 46-43 win over Chippewa Falls McDonell.
The Royals took the lead for good on a basket by Bohn with 6:35 left in the first half, putting Assumption on top 10-8.
Assumption pushed the lead to as much as 14 midway through the second half at 33-19 on a 3-pointer from Sainz de Rozas before the Macks chipped away.
McDonell cut it all the way down to one at 38-37 after a basket by Deetzl with 2:09 remaining, but Grundhoffer responded with a basket.
Sainz de Rozas made four free throws in the final minute to put the game away, finishing with a game-high 16 points. Bohn added 13 and Grundhoffer 11 for the Royals.
WIAA Division 5 Girls Basketball State Championship
Royals 55, Bluejays 48
Three Lakes 25 23 - 48
Assumption 33 22 - 55
THREE LAKES (48): M