Cougars upset Colo-NESCO

ACKLEY –The AGWSR girls’ basketball team withstood a late rally and upset state-ranked Colo-NESCO, 47-44, during the regular season finale here Tuesday.

The No. 13 in Class 1A Royals whittled down a seven-point deficit after three quarters to one twice in the fourth. Both times the Cougars had the answer to secure a sixth straight win.

AGWSR’s Alyssa Hames first drilled a three-point goal with 2 minutes, 5 seconds showing for a 45-41 lead after a basket by Lauryn Hill pulled C-N with one. The Royals again were within one, 45-44, on a Hill free throw and McKenzie Niemeyer bucket. Forced to foul, C-N sent the Cougars’ Whitanie Nederhoff to the charity stripe and the senior made both for the three-point cushion. Colo-NESCO’s last attempt to tie fell short.

“We got away from attacking the basket in the fourth quarter and were just protecting the lead,” said AGWSR coach Laurie Gann. “We wanted the girls to look for baskets, but that didn’t happen.”

AGWSR (16-5) stretched the lead from two points at halftime to 40-33 through three. Fueling the run was a 10-0 run that featured Hames with five points, Rachel Sicard three and two for Grace Finger.  

“I’m really happy for Whitanie,” said Gann. “Those were two huge free throws. She is solid at what she does. Her biggest thing this year is her leadership and direction on the floor.”

Hames led the AGWSR attack with a game-high 15 points followed by Sicard 12 and Finger a double-double of 10 points and rebounds. Sicard added seven boards and had three assists and steals as did Finger.

For the Royals (16-5), Ayvarie Bappe buried three of the team’s six three-balls and had 13 points along with 11 apiece for Hill and Rylee Purvis.

Colo-NESCO held a 15-9 lead after one quarter as Purvis canned a triple at the buzzer. The Cougars clawed back to take the second 13-5 with 10 straight points to go from six down to leading 22-20 at halftime.

“We didn’t start with much energy, but that may have been my fault from going man-to-man,” said Gann. “We switched to zone and things got better.”

The Royals were the second ranked 1A team AGWSR has beaten this season, earlier defeating then-No. 9 Clarksville.

            Scoring by Quarters:

Colo-N15         5          13         11         -44

AGWSR9          13         16         7          -47

AGWSR scoring – Alyssa Hames 15, Rachel Sicard 12, Grace Finger 10, Makenna Kuper 4, Whitanie Nederhoff 4, Brynn Smith 2. Three-point goals: Hames 2.