Girls Basketball: #14 Caledonia Pulls Away Late, Seizes First in East

The biggest game of the week was easily the matchup of #14 in AA Caledonia (10-1, 14-5) and #5 in AA Winona-Cotter (10-1, 18-3). Sole possession of first place in the TRC East was on the line. The Warriors withstood a rugged first half stretch, withstood a huge performance from the Ramblers’ top player, pulling away late for a huge league victory. Caledonia went 16 possessions straight without a point in the first half (10 turnovers). But Cotter only led by eight (22-14) and by four a halftime (28-24). It was then a tight game until the Warriors surged late. Caledonia led 45-43 with under six left. Aubrie Klug then scored five straight points, the last a deep trifecta, to jack the lead to 50-43. Rambler Clarissa Sauer, who scored her 1,000th point in the game, answered back with a three. But Klug’s scores led to the Warriors best stretch of offensive ball. They scored on 11 of 14 possessions in the final 5:30, making their last five field goals. Sophomore guard Nicole Banse scored six straight points. The Warrior lead grew to 57-47. Sauer scored 10 points in the final 1:42, but Caledonia sank 6 of 8 free throws and walked away with a 65-57 win. Banse drove her way to a season-high (23 pts, 9-12 FGs). Klug (18 pts, 7 rebs) also hit double figures. Josie Foster (9 pts, 7 rebs, 3 asts, 4 stls) and Sienna Augedahl (7 pts, 9 rebs) helped. Sauer (30 pts, 4-8 threes, 6 rebs) scored over half her teams’ points. Her teammates struggled to score against the Warriors long defense. Scott Sorenson’s group did much of their work attacking the basket. They hit 22 of 40 two-point field goals (55%) including 14 of 17 in the second half (82%)! They shot 23 of 49 (47%) overall, taking just nine threes (1 of 9). Cotter was 22 of 65 (34%) and went 9 of 31 from deep (29%). The Warriors also won at the free throw line; 18 of 24 (75%) to Cotter’s 4 of 10 (40%). The Ramblers’ gas tank might have been low. They fell at Class A #1 Goodhue 71-58 a night prior. The Warriors week also included a 63-49 win over Onalaska, where Caledonia trailed by double digits in the first half and 34-31 at intermission. Klug (27 pts, seven threes) had a big game, as did Foster (22 points). The Warriors (11-1, 15-5) now lead Cotter (10-2, 18-4) with two league games left (FC and R-P). Cal and Cotter split their season series, but the Warriors beat D-E 66-50 in league play while Cotter fell 60-58.