BY SPARTANS GIRLS HEAD COACH JASON KOLOUSEK
The Wessington Springs Spartans girls basketball team had a challenging week facing three very good teams.
On Tuesday, January 24 the Spartans hosted Andes Central/Dakota Christian, who came in with an 8-1 record. It was an entertaining game with lots of scoring but unfortunately the Spartans came up short losing 70-67. It was a tight game throughout and the Spartans led 16-14 after one quarter of play. The Spartans had a very strong 2nd quarter outscoring ACDC 21-14 to take a 37-28 lead into halftime. The Spartans were able to build the lead up to 42-30 early in the 3rd quarter, but then ACDC got hot from the outside and took a 54-53 lead going into the 4th quarter. The 4th quarter went back and forth and ACDC was able to hang on for the win over the Spartans. Avery Orth led the Spartans with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Kirstie Munsen had 18 points and eight assists. Carissa Scheel had 17 points.
On Thursday, January 26 the Spartans girls hosted Sanborn Central/ Woonsocket. It was a hotly contested game that was again close throughout. SCW jumped out to a 9-4 lead, but the Spartans ended the first quarter on a 10 point run and led after one quarter by a score of 14-9. The second quarter went back and forth and was played evenly with both teams scoring 14 points. The Spartans struggled offensively in the 3rd quarter and held a slim 36-33 lead going into the 4th quarter. SCW was able to take the lead 43-42, but that lead was short lived as the Spartans took the lead right back and then continued to get stops and made enough baskets and free throws to pull out the 55-45 win over SCW to improve to 7-5 on the season. Kate Havlik led scoring with 20 points. Carissa Scheel had 14 points and nine rebounds. Avery Orth pulled down 12 rebounds.
The Spartans ended their tough week by traveling to Miller, who came in with an 8-2 record. Scoring was tough to come by in the first quarter for both teams. The scoring did pick up a little in the 2nd quarter and Miller led 20-18 going into halftime. The 3rd quarter went back and forth and stayed close and Miller led 35-31 going into the 4th quarter. Miller came out in the 4th quarter hitting some outside shots and increased the lead and the Spartans could never get back into the game and ended up on the losing end by a score of 56-44. Avery Orth led the Spartans with 16 points and 17 rebounds.