GMG sophomore Adelyn Sienknecht (43) goes in for a layup against BCLUW during the second half of their non-conference basketball game Monday, Jan. 24, in Conrad. Sienknecht had seven points and nine rebounds in the Wolverines’ 44-34 loss. Photo by Noah Rohlfing

Leading 31-19 over BCLUW girls’ basketball with half of the third quarter to play, GMG was on its way to one of its best performances of the season against a strong team, head coach Justin Hornberg said.

The final 12 minutes of game action, Hornberg said, would go down as one of its worst performances of the season.

“Night and day difference in what we did the first half and second half on both ends of the floor,” Hornberg said. “I thought we were on our heels a lot in the second half defensively.”

A 25-3 run from the Comets to end the game resulted in a 44-34 BCLUW win, moving the Comets to 9-6 on the season. GMG drops its third-straight game and falls to 5-8 on the year.

Things started much better for GMG, though, as both teams found success on offense in a 14-12 first quarter.

Photo by Noah Rohlfing

It was the defense that set the tone in the second quarter — BCLUW scored just one point while GMG took a 25-15 lead into the halftime break, buoyed by Jenna Yilek’s 10 points. Allison Engle had scored 10 points in the first quarter but didn’t register in the second, and the Comets’ other star had just one point at the break.

The plan the Wolverines set out was working and it was up to BCLUW to adjust — which is exactly what the Comets did, coach David Lee said.

“We got more serious in the second half offensively, and I think we made the extra pass,” Lee said. “We made an extra pass or two and we were able to get inside, I think Chloe made great decisions in that second half. Just our discipline in the second half of doing what we do was really key to us gradually getting back in it.”

After going down 31-19, a 7-0 run ended the quarter with the score 31-26. Walters began to kick into gear and took control of the game in the paint. Scoring 12 points and getting multiple baskets on putbacks, Walters’ emergence put the Comets over the top. She finished with 15 points and six rebounds, while making an impact on the defensive side of the ball with a couple of blocks too.

Engle also hit two big 3-pointers to ice the game and put the Comets up by double-figures — she led all scorers with 18 points, nine rebounds and six steals.

Photo by Noah Rohlfing

It wasn’t just the number of steals, Lee said, but it was the times in which the senior got those steals that made a big difference.

“Her steals are at important times,” Lee said. “It’s where it looks like they have our press broken and then she’s got the ball. She plays the gap so well.”

While the Comets are ruminating on a comeback win, the Wolverines are wondering what could’ve been — and Hornberg said how the Wolverines respond will be telling.

“If we play like we did in the first half we’ll be fine, if we play like we did in the second half I have concerns,” Hornberg said.

BCLUW visits Colo-NESCO on Thursday at 6:15 p.m., while GMG plays at Colo-NESCO Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Photo by Noah Rohlfing

BCLUW 44, GMG 34

GMG (5-8) — Jocee Mason 1 0-0 2, Jenna Yilek 6 1-2 13, Reese Dieleman 2 0-2 4, Adelyn Sienknecht 2 0-0 5, Marriah Stonewall 2 2-4 6, Colby Miller 1 0-0 2, Dylan Mathern 1 0-0 2, Maecyn Lewis 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 15 3-8 34.

BCLUW (9-6) — Sydney Anderson 0 0-1 0, Callie Swanson 1 0-0 2, Allison Engle 6 2-2 18, Katie Hill 3 0-0 6, Chloe Walters 7 1-4 15, Leah Pieper 1 0-0 3, Brooklyn Backoff 0 0-0 0, Moyra Severa 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 18 3-7 44.

GMG 12 13 6 3 — 34

BCLUW 14 1 11 18 — 44

3-Point Goals-GMG 1 (Sienknecht), BCLUW 5 (Engle 4, Pieper). Team Fouls-GMG 14, BCLUW 9. Fouled Out-none.