Top team tops Ozaukee girls

The schedule for the Ozaukee High School girls’ basketball team couldn’t have started out much more difficult in the Big East Conference this season.

The Warriors opened their conference slate on Nov. 26 at Mishicot, which was ranked No. 5 in Division 4 in a preseason poll.

The Warriors put up a battle, but dropped a 54-42 contest.

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle, a big task, to go up there and get a win,” Ozaukee coach Tim Wolff said.

“I thought we started out pretty strong, but they are really, really tall and athletic, and they make it very hard to get any easy shots around the basket.

“We didn’t shoot particularly well as a whole, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.”

After a good start in the first part of the opening half, the Indians used their height to stifle Ozaukee’s offense.

At the half, the host team led, 28-18.

The Warriors stayed with Mishicot in the second half as the Indians outscored the Warriors by just two points, 26-24.

“We did get a couple of huge three-pointers from Emma Poeschl, which was good for her and helped the team,” Wolff said.

The Warriors got 23 points from Becca Schauer. She also made seven steals and dished out five assists, both team highs.

Poeschl and Gabby Klas each scored six.

Kylie Schmidt led Mishicot with 19 points and Desiree Kleiman added 15. Both are 6 feet tall.

The Warriors are 0-1 in the conference and 1-1 overall.

The Warriors travel to Oostburg Thursday and host St. Mary Catholic on Saturday. On Monday, Dec. 9, the Warriors play at Manitowoc Lutheran.

“We are looking forward to getting back at it here after the break,” Wolff said.