Sevastopol’s Naomi Rikkola (20) dribbles at the top of the key while being guarded by Sturgeon Bay’s Cady Carlson during Monday’s Packerland Conference girls basketball game at Sevastopol. Photo by Kevin Boneske.
Sevastopol’s girls basketball team broke a 2-2 tie with a 16-0 scoring run Monday and cruised to a 63-37 Packerland Conference home victory over Sturgeon Bay.
After a field goal by the Clippers’ Dasha Yeltysheva provided the early equalizer, the Pioneers took control with their full-court pressure defense and multiple outside scoring opportunities while facing Sturgeon Bay’s zone defense, landing seven three-pointers in the first half.
Sevastopol took its first double-digit lead at 13-2 with around 11:30 left in the first half on a three-pointer by Sadie Rikkola.
The Pioneers’ first-half scoring run also included Naomi Rikkola making two free throws after Sturgeon Bay head coach Dan Tjernagel was assessed a technical foul. Tjernagel expressed his displeasure with the officiating, such as when he believed a personal foul should have been called on Sevastopol, prior to being called for a technical and having to sit on the bench for the rest of the game.
Naomi Rikkola scored 22 of her game-high 29 points in the first half, which ended with the Pioneers leading 43-23. Sadie Rikkola and Kayla Ranly added nine points apiece with both players making three threes.
Yeltysheva led the Clippers with 13 points.
Sevastopol, which improved to 2-0 in the Packerland and 4-1 overall, next plays a conference game Thursday at Algoma.
Sturgeon Bay (0-3, 0-6) next hosts a conference game Thursday against Southern Door.
