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MARSHFIELD – Another crazy finish and another home win for the Columbus Catholic girls basketball team.
The Dons outscored Loyal 13-0 over the final five minutes and pulled out a 37-34 victory in a Cloverbelt Conference East Division matchup Tuesday night at Columbus Catholic High School.
Gracie Wilczek scored with 1:04 left, Sam Casperson drilled a 3-pointer with 30 seconds to go, and Mattea Schlafke hit a shot with 16 seconds remaining to erase Loyal’s large lead and give the Dons a 35-34 advantage.
Loyal turned the ball over on the sideline and its coach was given a technical foul disputing the no-foul call. Wilczek made one of two free throws, making it 36-34.
On the ensuing inbounds, Columbus was called for an illegal screen, giving Loyal another chance with 10 seconds left, only to see them turn the ball over as the player crossed the midcourt line.
Loyal fouled Wilczek, who made one of two at the line to extend the Dons’ lead to three. The Greyhounds had one last chance to tie it but a desperation 3-pointer from near midcourt was short.
Sam Casperson finished with 14 points and Gracie Wilczek had nine for Columbus Catholic, which improves to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Cloverbelt East.
Olivia Nikolai had 12 points for Loyal (5-3, 2-2 Cloverbelt East).
Columbus Catholic plays at Colby on Friday.
Dons 37, Greyhounds 34
Loyal 19 15 – 34
Columbus Catholic 13 24 – 37
LOYAL (34): Addysen Wolf 5, Sheila Tellock 7, Olivia Nikolai 12, Mallory Jakobi 4, Autumn Zvolena 6. Record: 5-3, 2-2 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (37): Katelyn Casperson 1, Maggie Callaghan 5, Mattea Schlafke 4, Sophie Wilczek 2, Sam Casperson 14, Gracie Wilczek 9, Courtney Sommer 2. Record: 5-3, 3-1 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.