A marquee non-conference matchup in high school girls’ basketball takes place tonight at Lancer Circle.
9-2 Manitowoc Lutheran will be hosting the 9-3 Brillion Lions.
The Lancers are amid a difficult four-game stretch that has seen them battle Hamilton of Milwaukee, state-ranked and undefeated Oostburg, Sheboygan Falls, and now the Brillion Lions.
They’ve won two of those three, including a 74-70 win at Sheboygan Falls on Saturday.
Senior Makiah Krause has stepped up her scoring this season, averaging nearly 18 points per game, and senior Marissa Melhorn, the all-time leading scorer in MLHS girls’ basketball, averages better than 14 points and nearly 9 rebounds per contest.
Defensively, the Lancers excel as their suffocating 1-3-1 zone press quickens the pace for opponents, creating numerous turnovers that they turn into points on the other end.
Brillion has had a great first half of the season under Head Coach Jeff Cappelle. They’ve won 9 of 12 games led by a pair of underclassmen.
Freshman Kaitlyn Schuman is averaging 14 points and nearly 4 assists per game, while junior Emma Schuh, a three-year starter for the Lions, is scoring better than 11 points and grabbing about nine rebounds per game.
Seniors Paydin Hale, Kara Hedrich, and Grace Kreuger are also major contributors to the Lions’ success.
This game is a rematch of last year’s thrilling Division Four regional final, won by the Lancers 59-56.
The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
Other girls’ games have Denmark looking for their tenth win of the year at Waupaca, Manitowoc Lincoln hosts De Pere, Mishicot looks for a fourth consecutive win as they entertain Hilbert, Howards Grove travels to Reedsville, Chilton visits Plymouth, undefeated Oostburg has a road test at Kohler, Sheboygan North is at Green Bay Preble, Bay Port plays at Notre Dame, Green Bay East hosts Seymour, Cedar Grove Belgium is home for West Bend West and Luxemburg Casco hosts the Wrightstown Tigers.
