Spartans dominate Wheelers at home

The Exira-EHK Spartans girls varsity basketball team continued their dominance winning their fifth consecutive victory over the Audubon Wheelers Saturday afternoon, 60-20.

“I think everybody is kind of getting a feel for each other,” said Spartans Head Coach Tom Petersen. “A new team every single year and it’s just taken a while for our chemistry to join together. I think the girls are gaining more confidence at times.”

The first quarter got underway with neither team scoring until Senior Makenzie Riley was fouled, making both of her free throw attempts and giving the Spartans the early lead.

Senior Quinn Grubbs made a 3-point shot to expand the Spartans lead to 9-0, forcing Wheelers head coach Darran Miller to use his first timeout of the day.

The Spartans expanded the lead to 12-0 when Wheeler Senior Rylee Brittan got Audubon on the scoreboard by making a free throw attempt, stopping the Spartans run for the moment.

A 7-0 run occurred right after, forcing another timeout from Miller with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Senior Shay Burmeister made a 3-point shot from downtown to widen the Spartans lead to 21 points, forcing yet another timeout from the Wheelers with two and a half minutes to play in the quarter.

The Spartans were dominant and took a 28-2 lead into the second quarter. Brittan was fouled early into the quarter, sending her to the line of scrimmage. She made 1 of 2 free throw attempts, giving the Wheelers 3 points on the day.

With five minutes remaining in the half, another timeout was called by Miller with his team trailing by 29 points. Petersen called his first timeout a few minutes later with the Spartans leading by 27.

Freshman Jaelynn Petersen hit a buzzer beater to end the first half, giving the Spartans a comfortable 40-11 lead heading into the locker room.

“He [Petersen] said just keep working, keep doing our thing and keep talking,” Riley said.

Jaelynn Petersen got the scoring going for the Spartans in the third quarter, dropping the first bucket. The Wheelers added a 3-pointer during the quarter that got them up to 14 points.

Miller used another timeout for his team with under six and a half minutes remaining in the final quarter and the Spartans holding onto a 40-point lead. The clock expired and the Spartans obtained their 11th victory of the season.

The Spartans will have a few days off before heading out on the road Tuesday night looking for their sixth consecutive victory against the 4-6 Ar-We-Va Rockets, who have lost their previous two games. The Rockets are led by Senior Maggie Ragaller with 131 points and 24 assists.

“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing, working hard, not stepping down for anything and just play our game,” Riley said.

 
 

 

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