Despite an early game blitz by the Denmark Vikings Friday night at New London, the Bulldog girls’ basketball team didn’t give up.
After trailing by 10 at the end of the first quarter, and trailing by 8 to start the second half, New London drove back to within 4 points with one minute to go in the third.
But at the end of the game, Denmark held on to win 49-41.
“I thought the girls continued to battle and did not give up throughout the game,” said New London Head Coach Troy Krause.
“We were unable to match Denmark’s intensity to start the game and found ourselves with a deficit we were unable to overcome.”
New London shot a cool 15 of 46 from the floor and 10 of 16 from the free-throw line.
The Bulldog defense showed their true colors in the second half, at times flustering the Vikings into giving up the ball.
Defensively for the game the two teams nearly matched with (20) rebounds each, (10 NL-11 DM) on steals, and (2) blocks each.
“We need to keep working and find a way to play hard for a full 32 minute game,” said Coach Krause.
Defensively Leah Porath and Payton Mix led the Bulldogs in rebounds with five apiece. Cassidy Pethke bought down four. Olivia Steingraber and Maddie Schroeder each grabbed two. Macy Madsen and Alicia Halvorsen both had one as well.
Pethke led in steals with four for New London, and a block for good measure. Steingraber also had a block.
Josie Hintzke and Madsen each had steals to help the Bulldogs. Mix and Porath took away the ball twice each in steals against the Vikings.
By the end of 32 minutes the Bulldogs trailed 49-41 in the game.
Leading scorers for the Bulldogs were: Mix 20, Porath 9, Pethke 4, Schroeder 2, Madsen 2, Halvorsen 2, and Hintzke 2.
The Bulldogs next home games are against Oconto Falls on Dec.16 and Freedom on Dec. 23, at 7:15 p.m.