Hartford drains nine first-half 3-pointers, holds off Appleton East in WIAA Division 1 girls basketball sectional semifinal

AppletonSportsPage.com

BEAVER DAM – A hot-shooting first half helped Hartford build a double-digit lead the Orioles went on to defeat Appleton East 58-48 in a WIAA Division 1 girls basketball sectional semifinal Thursday night at Beaver Dam High School.

Five different players combined for nine 3-pointers in the first half for Hartford as it took a commanding 40-26 lead.

Alexis Shelsta, who made three 3-pointers in the first half, added another in the second and finished with 15 points for the third-seeded Orioles as they were able to stave off a comeback attempt from No. 2 seed Appleton East. Hartford finished with 11 made 3s in the win.

Ella Jazdzewski went 7-for-8 at the free throw line and scored 13 points, Ella Sweeney added 12, and Jenna Ott made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points for Appleton East, which finishes the season with a 23-4 record.

Hartford (21-6) moves on to a Division 1 sectional final against No. 1 seed Pewaukee (23-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Whitefish Bay High School.

Orioles 58, Patriots 48
Hartford   40   18   –   58
Appleton East   24   24   –   48
HARTFORD (58): Bella Klages 4 2-4 12, Teaghan Smith 1 0-0 3, Rita Kuepper 4 5-6 14, Lauren Voss 0 1-2 1, Regan Resheske 3 0-0 9, Alexis Shelsta 5 1-2 15, Keira Bailey 1 2-2 4, Isla McManigal 0 0-0 0. FG: 18. FT: 11-16. 3-pointers: 11 (Shelsta 4, Resheske 3, Klages 2, Smith 1, Kuepper 1). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 21-6.
APPLETON EAST (48): Ella Mielke 0 0-0 0, Jenna Ott 4 0-0 11, Brooklyn Feller 1 0-0 3, Ambria Fischer 2 0-1 4, Aubrie Erickson 0 0-0 0, Emilia MontMarquette 2 1-1 5, Ella Sweeney 4 2-2 12, Ella Jazdzewski 3 7-8 13. FG: 16. FT: 10-12. 3-pointers: 6 (Ott 3, Sweeney 2, Feller 1). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 23-4.