Norse girls lose two in DC play
Whitehall’s Trinity Aasen released a shot during their game against Eleva-Strum last Thursday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
The Whitehall girls basketball team struggled in the first half of one loss and in the second of another last week.
Whitehall managed just 15 points in the first half of a 53-42 home loss to Eleva-Strum on Thursday. They got off to a much better start the next day, but struggled in the second half of a 52-40 loss at Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran.
Ninth-seeded Whitehall (9-14, 3-11) began Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament play at (8) Mondovi on Tuesday of this week. Should they win, they’ll play at undefeated Neillsville on Friday.
E-S 53 Whitehall 42
The Norse struggled to score in the first half and couldn’t recover.
Whitehall made just six field goals in the first half — one of which was a free basket as E-S allowed injured WHS senior Vaida Goplin to score to start the game on senior night. The Norse got a couple of baskets from Trinity Aasen and a three pointer from Avery Sonsalla, but managed just 15 points in the first half.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, were able to work the ball inside to Jaden Bautch and Neeley Lasher, who combined for 19 points to help give their team a 13-point advantage at halftime.
Lasher made a couple of three pointers early in the second half to help fight off the Norse. Whitehall kept coming as all-conference guard Norah Youngbauer scored eight points in the second frame and Olivia Killian added 10, but it wasn’t enough.
Whitehall finished the game with 15 made field goals and — compared to 19 for E-S — and struggled at the charity stripe, making nine-of-24 free throws.
Killian had 14 points to lead Whitehall, while Youngbauer finished with eight; Sonsalla, three; Ashlyn Clatt and Aasen, four; Edie Matejka, Carson Coburn and Goplin, two.
ECI 52 Whitehall 40
The Norse were within a point at halftime, but couldn’t keep up in the second half.
Whitehall trailed 22-21 halfway through the game, but the Lancers got going offensively in the second half and the Norse couldn’t stick with them.
Sheridan Noeldner led the Lancers with 16 points. Statistics for Whitehall were not reported to the Times.
