For the first time since 2020, the Beaver Dam High School girls basketball team is headed back to the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament.
The Golden Beavers closed the game on a dominant 17-2 run over the final 7:35 of regulation to defeat Xavier 67-53 in a WIAA Division 2 Sectional Final at Sheboygan South, punching their ticket to the Resch Center in Green Bay.
Beaver Dam led 27-25 at halftime and outscored the Hawks 40-28 in the second half to secure the win. Xavier briefly grabbed a 34-32 lead just over two minutes into the second half, but Emma Julka answered immediately with a deep three-pointer from the top of the key to put Beaver Dam back in front, 35-34.
Lucy Gonzalez followed with a three from the left baseline to make it 38-34. After a Xavier miss, Nataya Donaldson powered in a layup with 14:14 remaining to extend the lead to six. Julka added another layup to cap an 11-0 run, giving the Golden Beavers a 42-34 advantage.
Xavier battled back and tied the game at 48 on a Hailey Hafner three-pointer with 8:17 to play. After two free throws from Sheamarie Ashley, Annika Heimann converted a traditional three-point play to give the Hawks a 51-50 lead. It would be Xavier’s final field goal of the night.
Donaldson answered on the ensuing possession, scoring to put Beaver Dam ahead 52-51 — a lead they would not relinquish. Xavier’s only points the rest of the way came on a pair of free throws with 2:30 remaining, as the Golden Beavers pulled away down the stretch.
UW-Milwaukee recruit Nataya Donaldson led Beaver Dam with 18 points. Emma Julka added 16, while Sheamarie Ashley and Joelee Drzonek each finished with 11.
Hailey Hafner paced Xavier (22-6) with 16 points.
Beaver Dam (22-6) returns to state for the first time since 2020, when the tournament was cut short due to COVID-19. The program had captured three consecutive state championships prior to that appearance.
The WIAA will seed the four Division 2 state qualifiers and announce the tournament bracket Sunday. The Division 2 State Semifinals are scheduled for Friday afternoon at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
Click the link to hear postgame comments from head coach TJ Julka
Click below to watch the DailyDodge TV broadcast
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