Wolves edge Thunderbirds at home

Sometimes, the biggest spark comes from an unlikely place.

That was the case for the Manawa girls’ basketball team on Dec. 10 in the Wolves’ 57-56 Central Wisconsin Conference-East win over Iola-Scandinavia.

Alayna Seeger came off the bench to score all 12 of her points in the second half for the Wolves, gave Manawa the lead four times, and scored the game-winning point.

Manawa played from behind for most of the first half and trailed 12-2 at one point but rallied to take a 29-26 lead into the locker room at halftime after ending the first half with a 7-0 run.

Iola-Scandinavia led by six points twice in the second half before Seeger’s second basket gave the Wolves a 48-47 lead. Another basket gave Manawa a 50-49 lead, and her three-pointer turned a 51-50 deficit into a 53-51 lead. She later connected on two free throws with 58 seconds remaining, which turned out to be the final two points of the game.

The Thunderbirds missed four consecutive free throws down the stretch, and McKenzie Bonikowske’s shot at the buzzer bounced off of the rim.

Abby Elmhorst led three Manawa players in double figures with 15 points. Olivia Tomko-Santos scored 11 to go along with Seeger’s 12.

Bonikowske led all scorers with 21 points, and Charlotte Isermann added 11.