Pirates take care of business in Greenwood and Cornell

GILMAN GIRLS BASKETBALL

Tatum Weir hit two big shots down the stretch and Gilman allowed just three free throw in the final 6:55 to hold on and defeat host Loyal 50-40 Friday night in an Eastern Cloverbelt Conference matchup.

The Pirates completed a season sweep in their first conference rematch of the season and improved to 5-3 in league play and 10-5 overall while winning their eighth straight game. Weir had an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double and added six blocked shots. Madisyn James added 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Pirates seemed well on their way to comfortable win, leading by as much as 15 in the first half. James hit a pair of early 3s, Kayleigh James added her first 3-pointer of the season and Kya Deitzler scored four quick points as the Pirates opened up a 19-10 lead.

Triples from Emma Grunseth and Madisyn James pushed the lead to 31-16 before Loyal’s Anna Lindner hit a long jumper and added a three-point play off a steal with 37 seconds left to cut the lead to 31-21 by halftime.

The steal was a sign of things to come as Loyal stepped up its defensive intensity in the second half with some good ball pressure and getting into some passing lanes. Gilman held off the Greyhounds’ first run and pushed the lead back to 4027 on a jumper by Weir, a Hannah Vick steal and score off Loyal’s ensuing inbound pass and a 3-pointer by Madisyn James with 10:59 left.

But Loyal came charging back with a 3-pointer from Lindner, a three-point play off a steal by Sheila Tellock and a steal and score by Natasha Tellock.

Lindner’s long two-point shot from the corner cut it to 40-37 with 6:55 left. While the pressure was frustrating the Pirates, along with the fact they were called for the first six fouls of the half, they kept their composure down the stretch and wound up being the team clinching things at the free throw line.

“My girls stormed through and played hard and left it all on the court,” head coach Tammy Weir said. “We walked out with our heads held high. We played our game and came out on top. I was very proud of the girls for standing strong and not letting the calls get in their heads.”

Weir hit her first big shot, a short jumper from the left side at the five-minute mark to extend the lead to five. Sheila Tellock had a 3-point shot rattle out as did McKenna Schley. The Greyhounds then missed three shots after blocking a Madisyn James 3-point attempt.

Weir scored from the left baseline with 2:30 to go to up the lead to 44-37. She swished four bonus free throws for a 4840 lead with 35 seconds left and Aubrey Syryczuk sealed it with two more with 18 seconds left.

Grunseth had five points and three rebounds for the Pirates. Syryczuk and Dietzler scored four each. Syryczuk had six rebounds and four assists. Dietzler had four boards. Kayleigh James finished with three points, Vick had two points and seven rebounds.

Gilman outrebounded Loyal 39-29 and was 10 of 13 from the foul line. Loyal shot just 21.7% from the field, including five of 25 from 3-point range. Lindner led the Greyhounds (4-4, 6-8) with 13 points.

“We had 22 turnovers, but honestly, Aubrey and Madisyn had everything they could do to stay strong and get the ball up the court,” coach Weir said. “They held it together and did great.”

Gilman’s game at Granton Tuesday was postponed for a second time this season and will now be played Feb. 4. The Pirates will see how much they’ve improved tonight, Thursday, when they visit league-leading Neillsville, who beat them 61-17 in the teams’ first meeting on Dec. 2.

The Pirates will be at Colby Tuesday before hosting Spencer on Jan. 28.

“We have a few days now to prepare for Neillsville,” Weir said. “We are hoping to really give them a great game Thursday.”