by Jack McLoone

Coach Allison Becker told the Stanley Republican last week that a big team goal they set early in the season was to beat one of the teams that always finishes at the top of the conference.

After a seven-point win over second-in-conference Fall Creek, the Orioles did just that and secured fourth place in the Western Cloverbelt Conference and will host Gilman on Thursday for the Cloverbelt Crossover matchup.

The Pirates finished 10-5 in the Eastern Cloverbelt, highlighted by a 51-50 win over Neillsville in early December, their only conference loss. They won all five non-conference games and have been 11-2 since the first of the year. Senior guard Grace Grunseth leads the Pirates in scoring and assists, recording nearly fifteen points and dishing out 3.6 assists per contest.

The Orioles are all finished up with the grind of the regular season and Coach Becker is happy with all the hard work her team has put in to get to this point.

“Gilman will be a competitive game for us,” she stated. “We are very happy with our team that we finished in the top half of the conference this season. It’s very exciting to end up with the four seed.” Becker went on to say, “We get a bye and home court advantage with the winner of the Regis/Fall Creek game. We are up for the challenge and give our best effort.”

In the win at Fall Creek last Friday, Marissa Gustafson led the Orioles in scoring with 15 points. Lily Hoel scored 11 and Teagan Becker was close behind with another eight. Leslie Derks scored five and Tina Benson and Kayte Licht both added four each.

The Crickets went into the half leading 2311 and it seemed like they might coast to an easy win. The young Orioles had other plans and lit their net on fire, scoring 36 to Fall Creek’s 17 after the break.

“The second half of Fall Creek, we started making baskets and playing decent defense on the inside,” Becker said about what changes the Orioles made at the break. “Emily Brenner did a great job defending their leading scorer at the end of the game. Kayte Licht came up with a huge block on Fall Creek’s attempt to make a three to tie up the game and the team made free throws down the stretch. The whole team gave us great effort.”

Fall Creek was led in scoring by Katelyn Hong and Gianna Vollrath, who each finished with nine.

The previous Tuesday, the Orioles fell to Osseo-Fairchild, 64-43. Lily Hoel and Marissa Gustafson combined to score 24. Mallory Gustafson and Teagen Becker netted five apiece and Leslie Derks, Kayte Licht, Mallory Eslinger and Emily Brenner all scored a pair of points.

The Thunder were led in scoring by Brooke McCune and Mariah Steinke, who each scored 14.

In the WIAA Regional playoff, the fourth seeded Orioles will host the winner of Fall Creek vs. Regis on Friday, February 28th.