Milton's Mady Vind (11) and Fort Atkinson's Lyla Hintz fight for a loose ball in the Red Hawks' 67-25 victory over the Blackhawks Thursday in Milton.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
MILTON — Fort Atkinson learned a valuable lesson Thursday night when it faced Badger Large Conference Milton in a girls’ basketball matchup.
Run the Red Hawks off the 3-point line, or they’ll make you pay. Milton made 11 3-pointers on its way to a 67–25 win on its home floor.
Junior guard Sydney Grady led all scorers with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Senior guard Nayeli Kilen drained a trio of long range shots and scored 11 points.
Milton’s Kylee Buttchen lets a 3-pointer go as the Red Hawks made 11 threes in a 67-25 victory over Fort Atkinson Thursday night in Milton.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
The Red Hawks (4-4, 1-1) were hot from the start. After Kilen made consecutive 3-pointers, the score was 12-6. Grady, then, made her first of the night to give Milton a 15-6 lead. Kilen made a steal and passed it to Mady Vind on the fast break for layup.
By then, the Blackhawks had seen enough and called a timeout at 10:09.
“It was a great statement win,” Milton coach Stacy Skemp said. “We shot lights out from three in the first half and I think a lot of that was because we got in the flow of our offense. The first couple games of the season we were forcing them when they weren’t open.”
Milton's Saylor Spielmann drives the baseline in the Red Hawks' 67-25 victory over Fort Atkinson Thursday night.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
The 17-6 lead became 22-9. Fort Atkinson cut the deficit to 22-14. Milton answered back with five 3-pointers and a 2-point basket, while only up a free throw to close the half on a 17-1 run.
“Not only was our offense clicking, but I think we really shut Fort down,” Skemp added. “They’re a much better team than what they showed us tonight. I think it was our offense and hitting the threes, but then we were really talking on the defensive end.”
Milton's Allison Kojo shoots from long-range in the Red Hawks' 67-25 victory over Fort Atkinson Thursday night.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
It was a stark contrast from Milton’s earlier games; the Red Hawks had previously fallen 81-53 to Wisconsin Lutheran, 63-35 to Beaver Dam and 60-44 against Elkhorn.
The difference was not only the success from behind the line, but also the support from teammates.
“This was our best night of cheering and energy — both on and off the bench,” Grady said. “I think from how our season started we’ve taken leaps and bounds. I’m really excited to see where the season goes.”
Fort Atkinson's Kinley Wargolet battles with Allison Kojo (35) and Mady Vind for a rebound in the Red Hawks' sizable victory Thursday night in Milton.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
Milton has won its last two games. The Red Hawks defeated DeForest 67-56 on Tuesday. The Red Hawks will continue its stretch of conference games. They’ll travel to take on Monona Grove on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7:15 p.m.
