By JEFF OLSON
Special to The Gazette
The Rosholt Hornets girls basketball team ran into a surprise Tuesday night in the regional quarterfinals, barely managing to squeak by the Pacelli Cardinals, 47-42.
Nobody expected the Cardinals to compete with the taller and more experienced Rosholt Hornets.
Even Pacelli Head Coach Jim Warzinik said, "I don't think many people gave us a real chance or a real prayer at winning tonight." However, the final score took everyone by surprise.
Pacelli got off to a quick early start as they opened the game by scoring the first four points. Then Rosholt came back to tie the game up at four. From then on it was a seesaw battle as both teams managed to match one another point for point, until Cardinal Stephanie Johnson hit a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter to tie the game at 10. Johnson ended the game with 8 points.
The lead continued to swing back and forth, as both teams swapped baskets, until the Cardinals managed to put together a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter.
Finally, with 2:34 left in the second quarter, Amy Scott connected on two free throws to bring the Hornets to within seven, at 23-16.
Until the end of the half, both teams battled it out on the free throw line, with the Cardinals going in at halftime with a 27-20 lead. "At half, Rosholt knew that they were in for a fight," Warzinik said.
In the third quarter, Rosholt finally managed to find their way to the hoop.
"Midway through the third quarter, we finally realized that we just needed to reverse the ball more, and the other side of the basket was wide open," Hornets head coach Greg Vosz said.
That is exactly what they did as the Hornets went on a 18-0 run in the third quarter, with senior Amy Scott scoring 12 of the 18 and ending the game as the leading scorer with 22 points. "We just have to give her the ball, and let her do what she does," said Vosz happily.
Senior Hornet Jenna Eschenbach also helped out her team by scoring 10 of the team's 47 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter with 31 seconds left in the game. The Hornets also controlled the Cardinals, holding them to just four points in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Pacelli made it interesting when Jenny Mitchell brought the Cardinals within two, 39-37. However, Scott and senior Jenna Eschenbach, came up with some key steals near the end of the game and were able to hold off the Cardinals.
"There were a lot of emotions and energy left out on the court tonight, but I have nothing but good things to say about Rosholt," said Warzinik.
The Hornets will now face the winner of the Iola-Scandinavia/Menominee Indian game on Thursday night.