Klas lights up scoreboard in victories

A huge week by Ozaukee High School junior Gabby Klas led the Warriors to a pair of wins last week.

Klas scored a combined 56 points in the victories.

Ozaukee defeated host Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, 66-50, on Jan. 12, behind 25 points and 11 rebounds from Klas. She shot 4-for-5 from three-point land and was 3-for-3 at the free-throw line.

“Gabby had a great 25-point night as she was able to score in all three phases while shooting 80% from threes and making all her free throws,” Ozaukee coach Jason Pollard said.

It was the fifth game in eight days for the Warriors and the second in as many nights.

“Our team was certainly exhausted at times during that stretch of games. We’ve come into each game not taking any opponents lightly and making sure we work hard and earn any victory,” Pollard said.

The Warriors didn’t make a three-pointer in losing to the Rockets on Jan. 11, 54-46. The next night, they shot 6-for-12.

“Some of our shots didn’t fall the previous night and the team came out aggressive on offense and making our shots.  We were fortunate to shoot 50% for threes and shoot over 60% from the free-throw line, which has been a recent team goal to try and reach in our games,” Pollard said.

The Warriors led, 40-24,  at the break.

“Cami Miller had a great game as well with a near double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.  It wasn’t a surprise to see Cami start to come around offensively as she has shown those skills in practice, but it was great to see it occur in the game,” Pollard said.

“Natalie Miller was another player who struggled shooting in the previous game but came out with a great 15-point effort while scoring in all three phases and making all her free throws.

“Madison Karmasin was huge for us on the defensive side as we had her guard Elkhart Lake’s best offensive player for that game and shut her down in the second half.”

Resorter Ella Feldmann scored 17 points. Kat Miller had 14 points and eight rebounds and Avery Feldmann had eight points and nine rebounds.

Klas stayed hot last Friday against Hilbert in a 61-56 win, scoring 31 points.

“Watching film and looking at the games they played, Hilbert was going to be a strong test for our program. We had to brush up on our offensive schemes against Hilbert’s defense,” Pollard said.

“This was a great quality team win against an 11-win team. This was one of those games that we have stressed about, coming down to free throws and making them down the stretch.”

The Warriors had to make each possession count.

“We didn’t get as many steals or force as many turnovers as we usually do, so we had to take smart shots and convert on the offensive end,” Pollard said.

Klas’s shooting was a key.

“Gabby came out strong from beyond the three-point line in the first half and made an impact down low in the second half. She shot near 50% or better in all three phases of her shooting for the game.  Gabby has been able to adjust to some of the defenses teams have thrown at us (man-to-man, zone, box-and-one with one person just guarding Gabby),” Pollard said.

Other Warriors also contributed. Freshman Caitlyn Weyker scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists.

“Madison Karmasin, Caryn Ernisse and Cami Miller all scored above their averages to help us in this victory,” Pollard said.

“We’ve never wanted this team to be one with one player doing everything, so each night there are always other players who step up. This is a big help to the team and opens up other options for other players.”

Ozaukee trailed, 34-33, at halftime, but outscored Hilbert by six in the second half.

Hilbert leaders included Meghan Propson with 17 points, Laney Halbach with 16 and Lillian Sheets with 15.

Ozaukee improved to 7-8 overall and to 2-4 in the Big East Conference South Division.

The Warriors play at Sheboygan Lutheran (1-5 Big East, 5-12 overall)  on Thursday. On Saturday, they host Mishicot (6-2). On Tuesday, Jan. 26, they play at rival Cedar Grove-Belgium (1-3 Big East, 7-8 overall).

CG-Belgium going through brutal stretch

It is a busy time against top competition for the Cedar Grove-Belgium girls.

The Rockets are in the midst of playing  four games in five days this week and 11 games in an 18-day stretch.

On Jan. 12, one day after the Ozaukee road win, the Rockets got blasted at 11-6 Hilbert, 58-30.

Guards Alyssa Mentink and Alexis Bahr each scored seven points. Laura Jerabek had seven rebounds.

Halbach scored 21 for Hilbert, and Propson had 11.

Last Friday, the Rockets lost at home to 13-1 Oostburg, 56-21.

Bahr had eight points and Ellie Dirkse had six. Cheyenne Simonet had 10 rebounds and Dirkse had eight.

For Oostburg, Kelsie Dumes had 12 points, Ella Ten Pas had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Beth Koele and Jenna Soerens each scored eight points. Ashley Ternes had seven.

On Monday, 15-0 Howards Grove beat the Rockets in Cedar Grove, 61-22.

Mentink and Bahr each had eight points.

For Howards Grove, Mackenzie Holzwart had 25 points, Leah Parnitzke had 13 and Maddy Near had 12.

“They’re just a solid team. They don’t make mistakes,” coach Jason Jones said of Howards Grove.

All three of Cedar Grove-Belgium’s last opponents have tall players that the Rockets struggled to match up with.

“It’s a tough schedule but we’re trying to get better every time we play those teams. It’s a learning experience,” Jones said.

“As a group, we’re just learning and trying to get better. Focus on things that will make us better no matter who we’re playing.”

The Rockets, 2-3 in the Big East South Division and 3-8 overall, were to play at Manitowoc Lutheran (7-6) on Tuesday, at Oostburg (6-0 Big East) on Thursday, at Sheboygan Lutheran (1-5 Big East, 5-12 overall), at

Sheboygan Falls (1-12) on Monday, Jan. 25, and against Ozaukee on Tuesday, Jan. 26.