Neillsville Nails D3 Girls Basketball Title with Superstar Defense!
Two late steals propelled Neillsville to a win over Albany/Monticello for the school's second girls basketball state championship.
ASHWAUBENON − Two critical defensive plays by Neillsville helped preserve the school's second state title in the WIAA Division 4 girls basketball championship game March 14. Madi Davel's steal with a few seconds left thwarted a potential winning shot from Albany/Monticello. Her two bonus free throws with 0.
8 seconds remaining left the Space Stallions with one final attempt. Another steal by Laylah Walk on the inbound pass secured the 43-40 win for the Warriors as time expired at the Resch Center. Eden Marg, a 5-foot-10 freshman forward, had 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting with 10 rebounds to lead Neillsville (29-1).
Braelyn Anding added 10 points and Tessa Warren had 14 rebounds for the Warriors. More: Jaedyn Zdroik’s historic game lifts Pacelli to WIAA D5 state basketball title Neillsville previously won the title in 2012. Annie Olson had nine points and Emersen Butts had eight to lead Albany/Monticello (27-3).
"That's the internal strength of our kids," Neillsville coach John Gaier said. "They have been battlers all year long. We told them, in games like this, you're not gonna hold the other team scoreless ...