Rockets loss, takes gloss off game with Ike girls on Friday

Published on: 1/11/2012

Suddenly the South Milwaukee girls basketball game with New Berlin Eisenhower doesn't look as inviting on Friday.

Eisenhower (9-0), which really hasn't been challenged all year, hosts the Rockets (7-1) on Friday night. But the Rockets got killed by Cudahy (55-25) on Tuesday, the same Cudahy team which was crushed by Ike on Dec. 20 (64-40).

The Rockets managed to score 5, 7, 6 and 7 points in a quarter against the Packers. What do you think they are going to do against Coach Gary Schmidt's outstanding defense?

Five times the powerful Lions have scored over 70 points and they have held four teams to 19 or less. But a lack of competition in the Woodland Conference has made it hard to figure out how good this team really is. After the Rocket game the game with Pewaukee on Feb. 4 is their last good Woodland opponent.

I think the Lions are very good and will be a threat to head back to state. But they need to be challenged before the post-season.

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Coach Corey Scheel's New Berlin West girls have won two in a row and four of five as the Vikings are getting their act together (6-3, 7-4).

Stephanie Turner, their 6-2 center coming off knee surgery, is getting stronger and this is bad news for Woodland teams. She has scored 17 and 18 points in her last two games. Junior 5-11 forward Beth Ver Haag gives the Vikes a good 1-2 inside punch.

They play one tough game in their next three - Cudahy (7-1), St. Francis (1-7) and Brown Deer (2-7) - so it will be interesting to see what happens.

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Coach Dan Wandrey's Brookfield Central Lancers destroyed Madison East, 68-31, but the Purgolders (3-7) played without star Makailah Dyer (27.6 ppg) who was injured. Central has won three straight and four of five and could be getting their act together (2-2, 5-5) after a slow start. Junior guard Mary DeChant and freshman guard Emma Brauer have been stepping up their play. Anna Liewen and Sarah Fotsch have been killing on the boards and Debbie Etzminger has been a find on the inside and out. Sophomore point guard Lydia Rohde continues to grow in her leadership role.

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Wauwatosa East's girls (3-6) need one more win to tie last year's entire total (4-20). They have already doubled (2-2) last year's GMC total (1-13). Katie Salmon and Alayah Walls give the Red Raiders two very athletic players to watch.