MarshfieldAreaSports.com
NEILLSVILLE – Defense and poor shooting was the name of the game Thursday in a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal at Neillsville High School.
Spencer scored just six points over the first three quarters and made only 8 of 44 shots overall in falling to Neillsville 28-19.
The Rockets finish the season with a 16-8 record, while Neillsville (20-4) moves on to a regional final Saturday against Fall Creek at Eau Claire North.
Neillsville was equally ineffective on the offensive end, making just 9 of 35 shots, but made 11 of 17 free throws to provide the difference.
The Warriors outscored Spencer 10-2 in the second quarter to take a 14-4 lead into halftime.
Spencer trailed 17-6 going into the fourth, where it scored 13 points but couldn’t close the deficit as Neillsville made enough free throws to close out the win.
Caitlin Courtney scored 10 points and had six rebounds to lead Neillsville. She made 6 of 10 free throws.
Krystal Weier had five points, but was just 2 of 16 from the field as the Rockets struggled to find the basket.
Warriors 28, Rockets 19
Spencer 2 2 2 13 – 19
Neillsville 4 10 3 11 – 28
SPENCER (19): Deanna Szybowicz 1-9 0-0 2, Krystal Weier 2-16 0-0 5, Danica Johnson 1-2 0-0 2, Stacey Baumgartner 0-0 0-0 0, Courtney Schulz 1-6 0-0 2, Tara Matter 0-2 0-0 0, Kyleigh Hebert 1-4 1-4 3, Aubrie Bissonette 2-5 1-3 5. FG: 8-44. FT: 2-7. 3-pointers: 1-4 (Weier 1-3, Szybowicz 0-1). Rebounds: 21 (Schulz 7). Record: 16-8.
NEILLSVILLE (28): Caitlin Courtney 2-6 6-10 10, Tia Opelt 3-7 2-2 7, Angela Meshnick 2-7 0-2 4, Sammie Pfeiffer 1-2 1-1 3, Stephanie O’Leary 0-1 2-2 2, Casandra Craig 1-4 0-0 2, Alyssa Anding 0-1 0-0 0, Kayla Opelt 0-2 0-0 0, McKenzie Trunkel 0-5 0-0 0. FG: 4-35. FT: 11-17. 3-pointers: 1-3 (T. Opelt 1-1, Craig 0-1, Trunkel 0-1). Rebounds: 22 (Meshnick 8, Courtney 6). Record: 20-4.
