Onalaska Ends Cardinal Winning Streak

It almost came again. The patented Winlock come-back that has become nearly expected of them. Two weeks ago, it was Toledo and last week it was Rochester and Forks, but this time, it fell short as Onalaska hung on to earn a 35-30 1A Girls Evergreen Conference win. The game was eerily similar to the game played in Onalaska with the Lady Loggers applying a stifling full-court press allowing a 13-4 Onalaska advantage after the 1st quarter.

Onalaska Girls Head Coach Doug Ashmore (right) and Winlock Head Coach Scott Ashmore watch their respective teams complete a pre-game warm-up.

“Doug likes to change up his defenses, “ said his brother and Winlock Head Coach Scott Ashmore who’s team gave up 25 turnovers.

“We played several different types of defenses,” acknowledged Onalaska Head Coach Doug Ashmore. “We have the press and the 1-3-1 that works into a trap on top,” he pointed out.

The Lady Cardinals came back to within four at halftime based on poor Onalaska shooting. Ony had an 0-for in the 2nd quarter and went 1-6 from the free throw line. Tasha Sayers scored the only field goal of the 2nd quarter as the Lady Cards went 4-7 from the charity stripe.

Onalaska's Kalie Richey scored 15 points in Onalaska's 35-30 victory over Winlock on Monday.

While it was Kalie Richey that scored early and often totaling 15 points for the Loggers, Hailey Givens came out after half and lit up the nets with four straight points taking the Onalaska lead to 18-10.

Amber Durand had a quiet night scoring only 11 points with four of those on steals and transition baskets.

With 4:08 left in the game, the predictable Winlock comeback began in earnest when down 28-20, Courtney Sutor drilled a three and then Julie Jacobo took a steal on the inbounds right up and in. Suddenly it was a three point lead and the “Bird Cage” (Winlock gym) began to get noisy.

Winlock's Tessa Lawrence tries to tie-up Kalie Richey, but ended up fouling her instead.

(Courtney) “Sutor started breaking us down,” said Doug Ashmore who was impressed by her ability to drive and become a shooting and passing threat in the same motion.

With 3:34 to go, Samantha Gordon hit a silencing three ball.

Winlock came back with two buckets of their own to get within two at 31-29 and then Durand banked-in a shot from the left side of the paint.

Winlock’s Amber Buckman was fouled on the other end and made one of two free throws with 1:09 to go.

Onalaska had a difficult time bringing the ball up the floor, but the Cards had an equally hard time making a steal that wouldn’t go off their fingertips and out of bounds. Three times, Winlock was guilty of tipping Ony passes only to lose them off the court.

It was Durand who was fouled with 11.6 to go that iced the game with two free throws.

With 11.6 seconds to go, Onalaska's Amber Durand sank two free throws that iced the game for the Lady Loggers.

Tasha Sayers led Winlock with 10 rebounds while Kalie Richey grabbed 8 for the Lady Loggers.

“We had too many turnovers and we couldn’t hit shots said Scott Ashmore, the Winlock Coach. \

A winning streak in the Evergreen Conference has to be accompanied by near perfect play and that doesn’t happen every night. This night, Onalaska put a good enough game together to leave Winlock with the victory.

ONALASKA-Kalie Richey 12, Amber Durand 11, Hailey Givens 7, Samantha Gordon 3, Mandy Reynoldson 2, Amie Working 0, Sarah Barnes 0, Erin Wrzesinski 0, Regan Givens 0,

WINLOCK-Tasha Sayers 7, Julie Jacobo 6, Amber Buckman 5, Courtney Sutor 5, Kaley Crawford 4, Tessa Lawrence 3, Kayla Rakes 0, Amanda Suter 0, MacKenzie Spalding 0, Jill Craft 0

ONALASKA 13 1 12 9-35
WINLOCK 4 6 8 12-30