Chiefs drop opening pair
The Cornell Chiefs Girls Basketball team is off to a slow start in 2019, dropping a pair of non-conference games during the first week of competition. Cornell fell at home to Thorp, 47-30, then dropped their second game of the season, a 68-42 road loss to Augusta, that has them looking at an 0-2 start to their 2019-20 campaign.
Nov. 19 vs. Thorp non-conference (L 47-30) The Chiefs started the new season with a non-conference game against the Thorp Cardinals at home, but a slow start doomed their chances against the Cardinals of the West Cloverbelt Conference. The Chiefs held Thorp to 26 points in the first half, but the Cardinals’ defense did one better, liming the Chiefs to just 12 first-half points.
Cornell was better in the second half, holding the Cardinals to 21 points in the final half, but simply could not find their offense. Thorp, on the other hand, had three players finish in double figures and their defense continued to stifle Cornell, holding them to 18 points, while the Cardinals did not allow a single player to notch doubledigits.
Bryanna Bonander was the Chiefs leading scorer, with 7 points. She was followed by Erin Crowell with 6 points and Michaiah Galster with 5 points. Kaylie Walters and Charity Hessler each scored 4 points, and Izzy Clark and Alyssa Helland chipped in with 2 points each.
Nov. 21 vs. Augusta non-conference (L 68-42) The Chiefs were back in action two days later, taking a trip to Augusta, to square off against the Beavers for another non-conference tilt. The Chiefs showcased a better offense, but had no answers to the Beavers’ offense, falling 68-42.
The Beavers held all the cards in the first half, holding the Chiefs to under 20 points, while nearly notching 40 in the first half, as the Beavers took an early 39-16 advantage into the locker room. The second half saw Cornell elevate their game, nearly outscoring the Beavers and holding their offense in check, as they limited Augusta to just 29 points.
Bonander shook off her slow start the first game, to lead all players with 21 points, but no other Chief was in double figures, while the Beavers had three. Augusta gave up 26 points in the second half, but their first half lead was simply to great to overcome, as the Chiefs dropped back-to-back games.
Clark got her name in the scorer’s column that night, tallying 7 points, while Crowell added 6 points, and Helland and Walters each had 3 points. Hessler rounded things out with 2 points.
