Sectional preview: Three reasons why …
A unique preview of New Berlin Eisenhower-Pewaukee game
Living Lake Country sports director JR Radcliffe and NOW sports writer David Cotey go head-to-head in predicting what will happen in Thursday's sectional semifinal girls basketball rematch between Pewaukee and New Berlin Eisenhower.
Each writer offers three reasons why the team he covers will be victorious and move on to Saturday's sectional final.
Radcliffe's reasons why Pewaukee will win
They've done it before
Pewaukee may have played its best game in defeating New Berlin Eisenhower on the Lions' home floor earlier this year, though a dominating showing against talented Lakeside Lutheran in Saturday's regional final might enter that conversation.
They hit their freebies
One of the big reasons for Pewaukee's win the first time around was proficiency at the free-throw line (27 for 33); despite their youth, the Pirates have been hitting better than 71 percent at the charity stripe this year.
Hannah Frett
She's only the team's third-leading scorer, but the proficient defender (along with fellow senior captain Shannon Kalamarz) has been a crucial cog this season. She helped to hold Nicole Bauman to nine points in the first meeting with Eisenhower.
Cotey's reasons why Eisenhower will win
Balance, balance and more balance
Junior forward Anna Hahn has steadily led the Lions in scoring all season long, but after that, it's pick your poison. Four other players are averaging 7.5 points or more, though senior guard/forward Kali Shandley is not expected to play because of a knee injury. Still, Pewaukee will have its hands full with Bauman (10.7), Megan Tkachuk (8.3) and Amy Borkenhagen (7.5), in addition to Hahn.
They're battle-tested
Look at the Lions' record. You'll see wins over Pius, Mukwonago and Divine Savior Holy Angles, three teams that advanced to Division 1 sectionals this weekend. And Eisenhower's only losses were to Brookfield Central, another Division 1 sectional semifinalist, and Pewaukee. On the other hand, the Pirates' only games against sectional qualifiers were against the Lions (win) and Mukwonago (loss).
Revenge, of course
The Lions were eyeing a perfect season when the Pirates came along and ended that notion in late January. The stakes are bigger this time around, but you can bet Eisenhower hasn't forgotten that seven-point loss.
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