L-Cats fall to Lakeside Lutheran

By Adam Burdsall of the Daily Times staff
Saturday, January 10, 2009 12:04 AM CST

Lakeside Lutheran freshman Kristy Bruni (right) works against the defense of Lake Mills senior Bailey Halvorsen during the first half of a Capitol Conference North Division game Friday. The Warriors defeated the L-Cats 43-39. (ADAM BURDSALL/Daily Times)

LAKE MILLS - The fourth-ranked Lake Mills girls basketball team had a tough week.

After putting forth a suspect effort in a loss to Wisconsin Heights Tuesday, the L-Cats suffered their second loss of the season and first in Capitol Conference North Division play Friday as Lakeside Lutheran handed the L-Cats a 43-39 defeat.

“I thought our effort tonight was outstanding,” Lake Mills coach Pat Hauser said. “I do not see if we will see another defense as good as Lakeside's.”

After falling behind 6-0 to open the game, Lakeside Lutheran's defense took control. The Warriors rallied to within 11-10 after one quarter and then allowed just one basket in the second. As Lake Mills' offense sputtered, the Warriors put up 11 points, six from sophomore Alex Anthon, to open up a 21-13 lead at half.

“I didn't think (our defense) was anything special,” Lakeside coach Tim Matthies said. “We just executed the game plan. We tried to take away their strengths and we certainly did that in the second quarter.”

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The Warriors led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter when junior Jenna Luisier hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2 minutes, 37 seconds left. Lake Mills got to within 30-22 after three and was able to cut the lead to 32-26 with 6:55 left when sophomore Kristina Elles banked in a 3-pointer up top.

The Warriors (7-3 overall, 2-1 Cap. North) responded 18 seconds later with a baseline jumper from Anthon and didn't let the L-Cats within six until the final seconds when Lake Mills junior Denay Hering hit a 3-pointer just before time ran out on the L-Cats (7-2, 1-1).

Anthon led all scorers in the game with 14 points while senior guard Stephanie Denzer added 10 points. Hering led the L-Cats with 12 points while Elles added nine in the loss.

The L-Cats step out of conference to play at Dodgeland Tuesday. Lakeside Lutheran plays at Luther Prep Thursday in a Cap. North game.