Janesville Craig’s Adilynn Wellnitz, left and Middleton’s Hailey Stroede get the Tuesday night Big Eight Conference game going on Bob Suter Court. The Cardinals outscored the Cougars 18-5 over the final six minutes to claim a 77-72 victory. Wellnitz scored 21 for Janesville Craig.
Janesville Craig’s Adilynn Wellnitz, left and Middleton’s Hailey Stroede get the Tuesday night Big Eight Conference game going on Bob Suter Court. The Cardinals outscored the Cougars 18-5 over the final six minutes to claim a 77-72 victory. Wellnitz scored 21 for Janesville Craig.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
JANESVILLE — Leading by eight points with fewer than five minutes to play in a fast and rugged Big Eight Conference girls high school basketball game Tuesday night, Janesville Craig fell to Middleton, 77-72, on Bob Suter Court.
Little, but meaningful mistakes fueled the Cardinals’ comeback. Those mixed with a little more desire.
“With about four minutes left, we took a rushed three and then we had two turnovers,” Craig coach Kellan Schmidt said. “That just led to them getting momentum and them being able to come back.”
Janesville Craig's Destinii Green looks up for a referee's call in the Cougars' home loss to Middleton Tuesday night.
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
Leading 65-59, the Cougars committed three consecutive shooting fouls, which the Cardinals turned into five points. After the Cougars (4-3 overall, 4-2 Big Eight) led 67-59, the Cardinals outscored them 18-5 for the final margin.
“I think they just played harder,” Schmidt said. “They just wanted it a little bit more. They were just more hungry for a win. So, a more hungry team, and a team that’s going to get every loose ball, has an opportunity.”
Schmidt noticed the Cardinals outworking her team in the first half, which Craig ended with a 42-37 advantage.
Arms flow and reach for the Spalding in Janesville Craig-Middleton Big Eight Conference action Tuesday night on the Cougars' Bob Suter Court
DAVID SHEEN/SPECIAL FOR THE GAZETTE
“I said, ‘You have to want to win the whole 36 minutes, not just the last three,’” Schmidt said
Adilynn Wellnitz scored a career-high 21 points, making nine two-pointers. Abbie Claas scored 18 points. Off the bench, Destinii Green added eight points and a trio of assists.
“It’s good to show that no game is going to be easy,” Schmidt said. “Just because we had a big win last week (against Madison La Follette at home) doesn’t mean that any game in the Big Eight is going to be an easy one.”
Middleton freshman Anna Reinhard led all scorers with 23 points. Teagan Kadow added 14 and Brooke Michelotti produced 13.
The Cougars travel to Madison West, Friday, Dec. 19, at 7:15 p.m.
