ELGIN — Wrapping up three games in a four-day stretch, the Wolfpack girls returned to their winning ways with a 42 to 38 victory over Clarkson/Leigh.
Snapping a four-game losing streak, the Wolfpack need a victory heading into postseason play and that’s exactly what they got — but it wasn’t easy.
Elgin Public-Pope John took a seven-point lead after three quarters, then had to hold off a late run by the Patriots.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Wolfpack junior Jordan Mescher sank a trey to give the Wolfpack a 12-point lead, 36 to 24. However, from that point till less than a minute to play, the Wolfpack managed just one point as the Patriots chipped away at the lead. Maddie Cerv nailed a trey to spark a rally by the Patriots, cutting the lead to 38 to 31 with 1:31 left in the game.
After a free throw by Liz Selting bumped the lead back up to eight points, Patriot Shelby Paprocki nailed a trey with 52 seconds left to cut the margin to 39 to 34.
Hannah Kasik then made a two-pointer to close the margin to 40 to 36.
The Patriots would only score two more points in the game and the Wolfpack got some cushion when freshman Allyson Wemhoff made two of four free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.
Jenna Parks led the Wolfpack (17-7) with 18 points, Wemhoff added 11.
Two key statistics in the game: The Wolfpack shot 32 free throws, making 19 while the Patriots made just one of three free throw attempts. Rebounds helped keep the Patriots in the game as they pulled down 44 compared to 30 for the Wolfpack.
Wolfpack 42, Patriots 38
Patriots……………………….7 11 2 18 — 38
Wolfpack……………………10 12 5 15 — 42
Wolfpack — Liz Selting 1-8 2-4 4, Jenna Parks 5-14 6-8 18, Lydia Behnk 0-0 0-0 0, Calli Krebs 1-3 0-0 2, Paige Meis 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Mescher 1-5 0-1 3, Jill Schindler 0-0 0-0 0, Baylee Wemhoff 1-5 2-4 4, Ally Wemhoff 1-6 9-15 11, Katie Polk 0-1 0-0 0. Team totals: 10-42 19-32 42. Clarkson/Leigh team totals: 16-45 1-3 38.
Team statistics — Three-point shots – Wolfpack 3-15 (Jenna Parks 2), Patriots 5-20. Rebounds – Wolfpack 30 (Liz Selting 8, Jenna Parks 7), Patriots 44. Assists – Wolfpack 11 (Ally Wemhoff 4), Patriots NA. Steals – Wolfpack 3, Patriots NA.
