CLOVERBELT EAST CROWDS THIS WEEK'S GIRLS BASKETBALL POWER 5
The team's we recommend you watch, in alphabetical order:
Colby Hornets (2-1): The Hornets are paced by Lake Superior State commit, Hailey Voelker. Voelker leads her team in scoring (18.7ppg), rebounding (12rpg) and assists (3.5apg). With help from juniors Lexi Underwood (10ppg) and Olivia Vollrath (11rpg), Voelker and her Hornets are out to a 2-1 start. Colby hosts Owen-Withee on Thursday, December 5th at 7:15pm
Loyal Greyhounds (3-1): The Hounds beat Nekoosa and Assumption Catholic over the weekend to claim the 2019 Cranberry Classic Championship. Senior, Remi Geiger, put her skills on full display during the title game, scoring 26 of the Loyal 59 points. The Greyhounds did lose sophomore standout Paige Smith on Saturday due to injury. Loyal next plays at Greenwood on Thursday, December 5th at 7:15pm.
Neillsville (2-0): Coach John Gaier's Neillsville Warriors are perfect on their 2019 campaign thus far, with wins against Owen-Withee (68-29) and the aforementioned Loyal Greyhounds (58-39). Junior PG Bella Opelt continues to impress after catapulting on the scene in 2018. Opelt leads her team in scoring with an even 19 points per game. Neillsville next plays at Gilman on Thursday, December 5th at 7:15pm.
Newman Catholic (3-0): Our first non-Cloverbelt East team checks in from the Marawood South in the way of the Newman Catholic Cardinals. The Cardinals, off of a state appearance last season, are under the direction of first year coach Paul Haag. The Cardinals won the Tom Kislow Memorial tournament on Saturday with a 60-53 win over Rhinelander. Newman is packed full of senior talent, six in total, including team leader Julia Seidel. The 5'8" Seidel can score from anywhere on the court and is a must stop if you want to give the Cardinals their first loss of the season. Newman will test the zero in the loss column on Tuesday, December 3rd with a home game vs Division One Wausau West at 7:15pm and then hosts Athens on Friday, December 6th at 7:15pm.
SPASH (1-1): Speaking of Divison One, our sole D1 team on the Power 5 is the SPASH Panthers. SPASH is led by senior standout and Valparaiso commit, Leah Earnest. Earnest led all scorers on Saturday with 28 points as her Panthers took down Milwaukee Pius 60-50. Earnest is one of the premier girls basketball players in the state of Wisconsin, featuring a silky-smooth jumper, fearless takes to the rack and a smothering defensive work ethic. SPASH faces DePere at home on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:15pm before beginning Wisconsin Valley Conference play on Tuesday, Dember 10th vs Marshfield.
