RANDOLPH PULLS PAST ASSUMPTION TO WIN WIAA DIVISION 5 GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
By Paul Lecker
Zaleski Sports
GREEN BAY – The Wisconsin Rapids Assumption girls basketball team’s run toward a second-straight state title ran square into a brick wall Saturday at the 2022 WIAA State Girls Basketball Tournament at the Resch Center.
Undefeated Randolph, with superior ball handling and a strong front line, proved to be a matchup nightmare for the Royals. Randolph had 24 points in the paint, 11 second-chance points, and forced 20 turnovers as it pulled past Assumption 47-31 in the Division 5 state championship game.
Randolph completes an undefeated season to finish 31-0, while Assumption, the Division 5 state champs in 2021, end up 27-4 after another successful run to the state finals.
“It would be difficult for me to overstate the admiration and respect I have for my seniors and my whole program,” Assumption coach Ryan Klein said. “These young ladies are exceptional. As far as basketball goes, that maybe wasn’t our best showing, but I thought we competed well.”
Assumption started strong, taking a 7-2 lead as Ainara Sainz de Rozas hit a floater in the lane, Maleia Kolo scored inside, and Kayla Kerkman drilled a 3-pointer.
As hot as the Royals were to start the game, they were equally cold after as they didn’t score for 8½ minutes.
Randolph ripped off 11-straight points and never trailed again.
Junior post player Jorey Buwalda had six points in the run to put the Rockets ahead 13-7 before Sarah Shaw ended the drought with a 3-pointer for the Royals.
Sainz de Rozas added a 3-pointer 30 seconds later and the Royals hung close for a few minutes.
After a short jumper from Sainz de Rozas made it 22-17 with 4:17 to go, Assumption didn’t score for the rest of the half and Randolph pushed its lead to 11 by halftime as Presley Buwalda scored on a layup following a turnover in the final minute.
“We did lose our minds a couple of times trying to push tempo,” Klein said. “That’s our game, so that happens from time to time, and we had some careless ones (turnovers) that led to some easy buckets.”
The teams traded baskets early in the second half before the Rockets started to pull away.
Following a free throw from Shaw at the 12:40 mark, the Royals went through another long scoring drought as they didn’t score for six minutes and Randolph was able to pump its lead up to 21 on a basket by Maddie DeVries following another turnover.
Assumption was unable to get any closer than the final deficit of 16.
“I really thought at halftime that we were OK and were raring to go,” Klein said. “But, hats off to Randolph. That’s a quality team.”
Sainz de Rozas led Assumption with 11 points, Anna Schooley had seven, and Kayla Kerkman chipped in six points and seven rebounds.
DeVries had 11 points, and Abby Katsma and Jorey Buwalda each added 10 in the win for the Rockets.
“It’s been really fun,” Sainz de Rozas said as she and three other seniors – Izzy Jungwith, Sadie Donahue and Kerkman – end their careers. “It was great to end my career at the state championship. It feels good.”
Rockets 47, Royals 31
Randolph 28 19 - 47
Assumption 17 14 - 31
RANDOLPH (47): Abby Katsma 4-7 0-0 10, Presley Buwalda 3-7 0-0 6, Mya Moldenhauer 2-5 2-2 8, Jorey Buwalda 3-8 4-6 10, Maddie DeVries 5-8 1-1 11, Brianne Baird 0-4 0-0 0, Lauren Grieger 1-3 0-0 2, Jaiden Moldenhauer 0-0 0-0 0, Reagan Drews 0-0 0-0 0, Leah Vander Galien 0-0 0-0 0, Tessa Sadoski 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 18-42. FT: 7-9. 3-pointers: 4-7 (Katsma 2-3, M. Moldenhauer 2-3, J. Buwalda 0-1). Rebounds: 27 (J. Buwalda 7). Assists: 13 (J. Buwalda 5). Fouls: 7. Fouled out: none. Record: 31-0.
ASSUMPTION (31): Ainara Sainz de Rozas 5-10 0-0 11, Izzy Jungwirth 0-3 0-0 0, Kayla Kerkman 2-5 0-2 6, Cristin Casey 0-1 0-0 0, Maleia Kolo 1-1 0-0 2, Sarah Shaw 1-4 2-4 5, Anna Schooley 3-5 0-0 7, Addi Vollert 0-1 0-0 0, Autumn Moon 0-0 0-0 0, Sadie Donahue 0-0 0-0 0, Jayden Glaza 0-0 0-0 0, Kaycee Schultz 0-0 0-0 0, Breana Sullivan 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan Reichl 0-0 0-0 0, Lydia Smith 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 12-31. FT: 2-6. 3-pointers: 5-12 (Kerkman 2-2, Schooley 1-1, Sainz de Rozas 1-1, Shaw 1-4, Casey 0-1, Jungwirth 0-3). Rebounds: 17 (Kerkman 7). Assists: 9 (Sainz de Rozas 3, Kerkman 3). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 27-4.
2022 WIAA State Girls Basketball Tournament
March 10-12, at Resch Center, Green Bay
Thursday, March 10
Division 3 Semifinals
No. 1 Waupun (26-3) 47, No. 4 Whitefish Bay Dominican (18-10) 29
No. 2 Freedom (28-1) 66, No. 3 St. Croix Falls (24-5) 36
Division 4 Semifinals
No. 1 Mineral Point (29-0) 55, No. 4 Westfield (27-2) 45
No. 2 Laconia (25-4) 50, No. 3 Neillsville (25-3) 39
Friday, March 11
Division 5 Semifinals
No. 1 Randolph (30-0) 47, No. 4 Highland (26-4) 25
No. 2 Wisconsin Rapids Assumption (27-3) 36, No. 3 Chippewa Falls McDonell (25-4) 35
Division 2 Semifinals
No. 1 Green Bay Notre Dame (28-1) 64, No. 4 Menomonie (25-4) 45
No. 3 Pewaukee (26-3) 73, No. 2 Reedsburg (28-1) 43
Division 1 Semifinals
No. 1 Kettle Moraine (26-3) 66, No. 4 De Pere (24-5) 47
No. 3 Appleton East (25-4) 44, No. 2 Brookfield East (25-4) 40
Saturday, March 12