West girls shoot down Rockets

New Berlin - New Berlin West and South Milwaukee aren't in the same division in terms of school size. The two teams aren't in the same division conference-wise either.

Despite those differing characteristics the girl's basketball programs came together Friday night with similar consequences at stake.

Both the Vikings and the Rockets sat near the top of the Blue and Black divisions in the Woodland Conference and each still held a chance at division titles. But after the home win for New Berlin West, 44-40, only the Vikings maintain a realistic shot for a share of the conference championship.

West on winning streak

The victory marked the seventh consecutive conference win for New Berlin West, moving them to 12-5 overall and 11-3 in the division, one-half game back of division-leading Pewaukee and Cudahy. South Milwaukee (9-4, 9-5) suffered a fourth loss in the last five conference games, falling four games behind New Berlin Eisenhower in the loss column. For the third straight year the Vikings beat South Milwaukee by six or fewer points.

"Our girls have been battled tested all year and it started at the beginning of the year with the tough schedule that we had right off the bat," Vikings coach Corey Scheel said. "The past couple years we played them, they have been tough close games and I knew we were in for that again tonight without a doubt.

"It was just a matter of who was going to execute better and tonight we ended up doing that."

In the first half New Berlin West maintained a slim lead with help from junior forward Beth Ver Haagh. Ver Haagh scored seven of her game-high 17 points in the first half to give the Vikings a three-point lead at the break.

With five different scorers erupting for a 16-point third quarter, it appeared that New Berlin West would put the Rockets away. When the lead stretched to 11 points with 2:20 to play in the quarter, South Milwaukee responded with a huge run that continued into the fourth. By the time junior guard Riley Budde scored with 5:11 left in the game, the Rockets had come all the way back to take the lead on a 12-0 run.

"We're a little short-handed right now, and then of course Riley went down, so being down we tried to force tempo a little bit on our side," Rockets coach Tracy Stolte said. "We really don't like to do that but it worked for us tonight.

"We are at the point now that we know we can close the gap but we just need to be able to finish."

Pressing South Milwaukee

For almost the entire game South Milwaukee faced a full-court press from West and that press become even more challenging with 3:27 to go in the first when Budde suffered an apparent leg injury. Though the press caused some Rocket turnovers, it also gave them opportunities to break to the rim and score in bunches. Those bunches, along with the return of Budde, did not prove to be enough in the end.

Senior Shannon Burke buried a 3-point shot with just under a minute to play to put New Berlin West ahead for good. It was a Burke 3-pointer that gave the Vikings an early lead as well and her 11 points supplemented Ver Haagh's strong game.

"We know how to stay in these games and these girls don't quit," Scheel said. "We didn't panic, we stayed our course and just kept fighting.

"I give a ton of credit to my girls especially Shannon Burke, my senior, who hit the big shot late when we were down two."

Junior forward Emily Pusheck led the Rockets with 11 points, eight of those coming in the fourth quarter, to give South Milwaukee the lead late. Down the stretch senior guard Mal Wesley fouled out with over four minutes to play, leaving the Rockets without her for the crucial closing possessions.

Scheel and West still have an eye on a piece of the Blue Division crown. With Cudahy coming to New Berlin next week with that same goal, the Vikings are sure to be ready for another battle. They will also travel to Shorewood on Feb. 14.

"We understand we need a little help to get there and get a piece of the conference championship," Scheel said. "We have Cudahy next week and I'm sure they'll be gunning for us.

"These girls know what's ahead of them and the ultimate goal."

ST. FRANCIS RESULTS

The Vikings rolled over last-place St. Francis, 55-26, on Jan. 31 to start the week on a good note. West led 31-9 at halftime and there were no doubt about the results. The Vikings had five players score between seven and 10 points to lead a balanced attack. Shannon Burke led the way with 10, followed by Beth Ver Haagh and Jenna Brzeski, each with nine, and Anne Kaczynski and Lizzie Kugl with seven apiece.