By Jed Buelow
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports and Nature Editor
All season long the Lady Hatchet hoopsters have been showing signs of improvement. And those improvements paid off last Tuesday, as Tomahawk hosted White Lake for a non-conference tilt at Hatchet Fieldhouse and got the 52-20 win.
It was Tomahawk’s second victory over White Lake of the season after opening the year with a win over the Lakers in Langlade County.
“It was a great team effort. All of the girls were able to get quality playing time,” said Hatchet coach Garth Gerstenberger. “We were more patient on the offense end and as a result had our highest point total of the year.
Hatchet senior Natalie Zastrow fittingly had one of her best performances of the season as she and teammate Yumo Zheng, exchange student from Beijing, China, were recognized during Senior Night held at Hatchet Fieldhouse.
The Hatchet offense was led by Tiana Gerstenberger and Gracie Barnett as each finished in double-digit scoring with 11 points. Several others contributors helped the Lady Hatchets to their second victory of the season including Emily Maki with 8 points, Zastrow and Maddie Marino chipped in 5, Haley Liebelt scored 4, Addison Bartz had 3, Aubrey Fryar and Ella Genelin each pitched in a pair and Amber Florczak got on the score sheet with a point in the win over White Lake.
Earlier in the week Tomahawk traveled to Park Falls for a non-conference tilt and fell by a score 51-30. Coach Gerstenberger said his team played some good half court defense and cut down on the turnovers but just couldn’t put the ball in the bucket in the second half as the Screaming Eagles pulled away to get the win.
Bartz and G. Barnett were the Lady Hatchets top scorers in Falls as each finished with 7 points. A. Florczak, H. Liebelt and E. Maki had 4 and N. Zastrow and M. Marino finished with 2 points apiece in the loss to the Eagles.
Tomahawk finished out a busy week and the regular season on the road Friday as they traveled to Hodag Country to take on Rhinelander in a GNC matchup and fell by a score 70-15.
The Lady Hatchets actually jumped out to an 4-2 lead in the game before the Hodags started to get hot from the field. Coach Gerstenberger said his team played much better defense than the last time the met up earlier in the season in Tomahawk.
With the win Rhinelander became conference champs finishing with a perfect 12-0 record in the GNC.
Maki led the Hatchets in scoring with 4 and E. Genelin finished with 3 and three others finished with 2 points, respectively.
The #11 Tomahawk Hatchets travel to Clintonville tonight (Tuesday) to take on the #6 Truckers in the opening round of the WIAA Division 3 playoffs. The winner will then be back in action this Friday, Feb. 28 as they travel to #3 Wittenberg-Birnamwood for a Regional tilt that begins at 7 p.m.