CFHS downs SHS girls

The Superior High School girls basketball team nearly pulled off an upset Tuesday night with a 48-47 loss to Chippewa Falls. The Cardinals (19-1) were ranked No. 3 among Division 1 teams in this week’s Associated Press Wisconsin prep girls basketball poll.

“I was proud of my girls tonight,” SHS coach Phil Roe said. “They fought, scrapped and took the No. 3 team in the state to the end in a great high school basketball game."

The Spartans (13-5) struggled offensively in the first half but took the lead with strong defense. Superior trailed 12-6 in the first quarter but closed out with an 8-0 run to take the lead.

Hailey Kontny and Alison Wainionpaa got Superior going when Kontny poked the ball away for a steal and Wainionpaa finished with a fast-break layup. Jessica Lindstrom made it 12-11 with an inside shot off an inbound pass, and with about a minute to play Lindstrom came up with a steal and got the ball to Kontny for a 3-pointer to put Superior up 14-12.

Superior opened the second quarter with two fast baskets but then went without another field goal until the final minute of play. Chippewa Falls managed to tie the game at 19-19 during Superior’s scoring lull but struggled with turnovers and allowed the Spartans to score the final five points of the quarter.

Chippewa Falls came out strong to start the second half. The Cardinals took a 25-24 lead on three straight shots in the paint and went on to lead 29-25 with a 10-1 run. Superior did not have a field goal in the first six minutes of the third quarter and was outscored 16-7 for the period.

In the fourth quarter, Superior chipped away at the Cardinals’ lead with Lindstrom and Dani Magdzas both making key shot for the Spartans. A 3-pointer from Lindstrom made it 41-43, and Kontny tied the game on a layup with 3:50 to play.

Kayla Hanley put Chippewa Falls back in front with a timely shot from the arc, and the Cardinals maintained their lead for the last 2:30 of the game.

Superior’s last chance for the win came after Abby Clemons made it 48-47. With seconds left to play, the Spartans fouled Chippewa Falls to stop the clock. The Cardinals missed the front end of a one-and-one, and although Superior came down with the rebound, the Spartans weren’t able to get off a shot in the 4.5 seconds remaining.

Superior struggled from the free-throw line for the night, shooting less than 50 percent. The Spartans made 5-of-12 shots in the first half and 6-of-11 in the second.

"We had our chances to win the game, but you don’t win many basketball games when you shoot 11-for-23 at the free-throw line," Roe said. “Give Chippewa Falls credit, they are every bit deserving of their No. 3 ranking and are a class act. Even though we lost the game my girls are playing their best basketball of the year; we are looking forward to finishing out our schedule and making a run to the state tourney. We will learn from our mistakes and become stronger as a team.”

Lindstrom led Superior with 18 points, followed by Kontny with 17. Clemons added five, Magdzas had three and Wainionpaa and Raya Kosey added two apiece.

Chippewa Falls 12-7-16-13—48

Superior 14-10-7-16—47

Chippewa Falls — Rachel McDonald 11, Kayla Knez 4, Sara Bedford 1, Chelsea LeDuc 12, Kayla Hamley 12, Jess Zwiefelhofer 8. Totals 22 2-8 48.

3-point goals — Hamley 2

Superior — Abby Clemons 5, Raya Kosey 2, Alison Wainionpaa 2, Jessica Lindstrom 18, Dani Magdzas 3, Hailey Kontny 17. Totals 17 11-23 47.

3-point goals — Kontny, Lindstrom.

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