Swept the hard way

The second time around facing Random Lake went much better for the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School girls’ basketball team at home on Dec. 8.

Unlike a slow start that resulted in a 52-30 loss a week earlier, the Rockets this time led for nearly the entire game.

Until the last few seconds.

Ram Callie Vorpahl drained a three-pointer from the right wing that gave the Rams a 49-48 lead.

“We were supposed to guard her. The ball got inbounded and we got mixed up on some of our switches. She became open and put the shot up and won it,” coach Jason Jones said.

The Rockets got off a three-fourths-court shot at the end, but it wasn’t close.

The loss spoiled Rocket guard Alyssa Mentink’s game-high 20 points. The senior went 5-for-13 shooting from the field and 8-for-9 on free throws. She also grabbed six rebounds and had three assists.

Sophomore guard Alexis Bahr had 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting. Ellie Dirkse scored eight and went 2-for-5 on three-pointers. Brooke Braga had seven rebounds, and Cheyenne Simonet had three assists and steals each.

The difference between the two Random Lake games was intensity, Jones said. This time, the Rockets pressured the Rams, creating turnovers.

“We played well for most of the game and lost it at the end there,” Jones said.

Ram McKenna Armstrong, a versatile 5 feet, 10-inch senior who has committed to play at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Vorphal scored 11 and had six rebounds.

Ashley Gruman had eight points, and Becca Arendt had eight rebounds.

The Rams went to 5-2.

The Rockets, 1-3, won’t play again until Tuesday, Dec. 22, against Sheboygan Lutheran. They are on quarantine due to Covid-19, which postponed last Friday’s game against Oostburg, moves the Dec. 15 game at Manitowoc Lutheran to Jan. 19 and postpones the Dec. 18 game at Ozaukee.

Jones said he would give his team activities to do if they have equipment at their homes before their next practice on Saturday, Dec. 19.