Two different paths have led Fall River and Eleva-Strum to Green Bay. On Friday morning, only one moves on.
The Pirates and the Cardinals meet in the WIAA Division Five State Girls Basketball Semifinals at 9:00am at the Resch Center. Pregame coverage begins at 8:45am on 1430 ESPN Beaver Dam, with Mike Throndsen and Tim Haldiman on the call.
Fall River enters at 17-11 after finishing second in the Trailways West. The Pirates are playing their best basketball of the season, coming off a 58-48 win over Lourdes Academy in the sectional final at Markesan.
Senior leadership has driven their postseason run. Natalie Fietz leads the team at 19.9 points per game and has been a consistent scorer all year. Fellow senior Emma Sampson averages 17.1 points per game, giving Fall River a dependable one-two punch offensively.
This will be Fall River’s fourth appearance at the state tournament and their first since 2019. That experience could matter on a big stage like the Resch Center.
Eleva-Strum comes in undefeated at 29-0 and champions of the Dairyland Conference. The Cardinals advanced with a 64-44 sectional final win over Webster and have controlled games on both ends of the floor throughout the season.
Junior Avery Glenz leads Eleva-Strum at 17.8 points per game, while junior Maddie Brown adds 11.9. The Cardinals’ only other state appearance came in 2008, making this a significant moment for the program.
Friday’s semifinal matches Fall River’s senior experience against Eleva-Strum’s unbeaten record. A trip to the Division Five State Championship Game Saturday morning at 11am is on the line.
Stevens Point Pacelli and Barneveld face off in the other D5 Semfinal.
Tip-off is set for 9:00am Friday morning at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Coverage begins at 8:45am on 1430 ESPN Beaver Dam with Mike Throndsen and Tim Haldiman.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO STREAM OF THE GAME.
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