GIRLS BASKETBALL: GRITTY GUMPTION

One final stop, that’s all that Sparta needed.

The Spartans were clinging to a slim two point lead over Mauston after senior Elexa Jones went 1-2 at the free throw line with 14 seconds to play. Leading 58-56, all Sparta had to do was withstand the Golden Eagles’ final drive.

Mauston then inbounded the ball and after crossing half court, worked to get the ball inside the paint. Senior guard, Bre Heller sent up a shot after driving past the free throw line, but the ball bounced off the back of the rim, and the Spartans were able to get the rebound as time expired to hold on for the 58-56 win.

The victory ushered in a new era for Sparta girls basketball as Christopher Schofield made his debut as the SHS head coach, replacing Sami Weaver who had spent the three seasons prior in charge of the Spartans.

“I was really proud of how the girls worked tonight,” Schofield said. “We played really hard, even during the last 1:30 or so where you could feel the momentum shift directions, they just kept playing really hard.”

Sparta had to play hard throughout the contest. For nearly three-fourths of the game, Mauston owned the lead.

Heller scored the first five points of the game to give MHS an early 5-0 advantage. The Spartans trailed by as many as nine points at 21- 12 with 9:23 left in the first half. Sparta had cut the deficit down to seven points at 21-14, when Abby Berendes made a three-pointer and then hit two free-throws to make it 21-19 with 5:57 remaining in the half.

Sparta then tied the game at 21-21 after a bucket by Jones, following a steal. The game was then tied again at 23-23 with 3:18 left, before Mauston took a 24-23 lead into halftime.

Sparta finally took its first lead of the game at 30-28 with 15:30 left in the second half. The lead for SHS grew to 11 points, which they reached twice. The first time Sparta led 43-32 after a free-throw by Lily Seifert with 8:00 left to go, and then at 47-36 after a free-throw by Jones with 6:44 left to go.

Sparta led by as many as 13 points at 56-43 with 3:02 left in the game. However, Mauston did not go away quietly, as they strung together a 13-2 run in the final segment of the game.

The home team cut the lead down to six points at 56-50 with 1:23 left in the game, then connected on two three-pointers in the final minute to trim the deficit to 57-56 with 22 seconds left. Sparta was able to run the clock down to 14 seconds remaining, before Jones was fouled for her final free-throws.

Jones led the team with 16 points, and Tiana Leis added 14 points. The Spartans made six three-pointers as a team, Seifert and Jones led the team with two each. Sparta went 14-20 from the free-throw line.

Schofield said that one of the main things the team can take away from surviving the comeback attempt is how to close out games.

“We were really sloppy with the ball late in the game. We did things, with playing with tempo, that we hadn’t done all game. We were playing too fast, and forcing passes, we just have to be better late in the game,” Schofield said. “That is the learning process, but when it came down to one possession, they dug in and were able to get a stop and get the rebound too.”

One thing that the Spartans can build off of by starting the season with a win is the resilience they showed both late in the first half and the entire second half.

“I thought we executed better in the second half both offensively and defensively. I thought we were shell-shocked in the first half and we didn’t have a clue offensively. Once they settled in and just played, things looked a lot better for us.”