A pair of undefeated girls’ basketball teams will play for the Division 2 state championship.
New London and New Berlin Eisenhower each won their state semifinal game Friday, March 23, at the Kohl Center in Madison. New London (27-0) ended Green Bay Notre Dame’s season by handing the Tritorns a 52-34 loss, while New Berlin defeated Reedsburg 47-28.
The title game, set for 6:35 p.m. Saturday, March 24, will feature the last two Division 2 champions. New London won its first championship last year, while Eisenhower won in 2010.
The Bulldogs’ defense eventually wore down the Tritons in the second half.
New London led 14-10 after one quarter, but Notre Dame trimmed the lead to 23-22 at halftime. Notre Dame never took the lead in the second half and trailed by as many as nine points in the third quarter. Brianna Byrne’s three-pointer with 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter cut New London’s lead to 35-29. Another three from Byrne 19 seconds into the fourth quarter trimmed the lead to 35-32, but the Bulldogs put the game out of reach with a 15-0 run.
Tara Knapstein and Bridget Pethke led New London with 18 points each, while Byrne led the Tritons with 17. New London also held Notre Dame’s leading scorer, Allison LeClaire, to five points and only one field goal.