WILLMAR -- New London-Spicer found out a little more about what kind of team they have Friday night in the semifinal round of the West Central Tribune Girls Basketball Tournament.
A good Watertown-Mayer team took the No. 4 (AA) Wildcats nearly to the wire before bowing out 54-45.
Renae Henjum and Karlie Wendlandt, the Wildcats' 1-2 punch underneath each finished with 11 points. Cassie Ziemer added nine points and Justine Dammermann eight, going 4-of-5 at the line in the second half when the Wildcats drilled 11 of 13 free throws, most of those in the last five minutes.
Henjum got in early foul trouble and did a lot of sitting. Junior center Brianna Jacobson relieved and put in seven points and Michelle Jacobson also provided a spark inside off the bench.
It was 21-21 at halftime. The Royals (2-4) went on a 10-2 run to start the second half for a 31-23 lead. But Henjum popped a couple of short jumpers and Ziemer a 3-pointer to make it 31-30.
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The Royals, who were quick and disciplined but lacked a true inside attack, built their lead up to three points again but each time NLS battled back.
The score was tied 45-45 with 2:50 to play after Marissa Janning buried a three-pointer. But the Royals didn't score again and Janning, only an eighth-grader, fouled out with 1:10 left after scoring 23 points.
The Royals' Bridget Boll fouled out after scoring nine points.
NLS finished the game on a 9-0 run.
"Watertown-Mayer is well coached," said Mike Dreier, the NLS coach. "Henjum's foul trouble hurt us, but Bri and Michelle did a good job. Give our girls credit; they were down and they came back."
NLS and Willmar will reprise last year's WildCard final at New London, won by the Wildcats, at 7:45 tonight.
New London-Spicer 54, Watertown-Mayer 45
Watertown-Mayer (2-4) 21 24 -- 45
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NLS (8-0) 21 33 -- 54
WATERTOWN-MAYER - 14-50 FG (6-23 3-pt); 11-15 FT; 18 rebounds; 21 fouls ... Scoring: Ashley Neaton 7, Bridget Boll 9, Meredith Miller 3, Kayle Weinmann 1, Marissa Janning 23, Leah Boll 2 ... 3-point shots: Neaton 1, Boll 1, Janning 4 ... Rebound leaders: not available
NEW LONDON-SPICER - 17-51 FG (4-24 3-pt); 16-21 FT; 32 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Taylor Thompsen 6, Justine Dammermann 8, Renae Henjum 11, Cassie Ziemer 9, Karli Wendlandt 11, Michelle Hanson 2, Brianna Jacobson 7 ... 3-point shots: Thompsen 2, Dammermann 1, Ziemer 1 ... Rebound leaders: Wendlandt 9, Henjum 8, Ziemer 6 ... Assist leaders: Ziemer 33, Dammerman 3 ... Steal leaders: Thompsen 4, Henjum 2
