E-M Claims Semi Win Over Lions (2-3-12)
Elmwood-Murdock 57, Louisville girls 20

Elmwood-Murdock sprinted to a 27-5 first half lead, defeating Louisville, 57-20, in semi-final play of the East Central Nebraska Conference girls basketball tournament. The loss drops the Lions’ season record to 13-6 while the Knights improve to 16-3.

With the Louisville defense prepped to stop Megan Schmale, a two-time all-conference honoree, Elmwood-Murdock turned to Emma Leone. The sophomore guard didn’t disappoint, scoring all 11 of her game points in the first period on 4-of-7 shooting including three from beyond the arc, as the Knights led 14-4 at the end of the first quarter.

Elmwood-Murdock then used a strong defensive effort to hold the Lions, who had been averaging over 58 points a game over the last five contests, to just one second quarter point. E-M point guard Erin Dwyer went to work, scoring nine of her game-high 16 points during the period, giving the Knights a huge 27-5 lead at the break.

The Lions showed life in the second half, paced by the play of sophomore center Sam Lane who scored all eight of her team-high points in the second half of play. But the disciplined Knights continued to play defense, used balanced scoring in the third quarter and hit 7-of-12 free throws in the final period to come away with the 57-20 win.

The win vaults the Knights into the 6:15 championship game against East Butler while the Lions will play Weeping Water (15-6) in the consolation match-up at 4:30 on Monday at Malcolm.

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Louisville	4	1	8	7	=	20
Elmwood-Murdock	14	13	17	13	=	57

Louisville	2FG/FGA	3FG-FGA	FT- FTA	Reb	Ast	F	Tot. Pts.
Stander, Sydney	0	0	0-0	-	-	0	0
Zaracki, Taylor	0	0	0-0	-	-	2	0
Lane, Sam	4	0	0-2	-	-	3	8
Minchow, Natalie	3	0	1-2	-	-	0	7
Dittberner, Morgan	0	0	0-0	-	-	1	0
Dean, Tori	0	0	1-2	-	-	0	1
Vice, Mahlory	0	0	0-0	-	-	1	0
Holl, Raegan	0	0	0-0	-	-	3	0
Higginbotham, Paige	0	0	1-2	-	-	1	1
Derby, Carlee	1	0	0-0	-	-	0	2
Marcoe, Jordyn	0	0	0-0	-	-	2	0
Zahn, McKenna	0	0	0-0	-	-	0	0
Novotny, LeighAnn	0	0	1-2	-	-	1	1
Mohler, Karli	0	0	0-0	-	-	0	0
Totals	8	0	4-10	-	-	14	20

Elmwood-Murdcok	2FG/FGA	3FG-FGA	FT- FTA	F	Tot. Pts.
Bowman, Jordan	0	0	0-0	3	0
Dwyer, Erin	4	2	2-4	0	16
Elwood, Natalie	1	0	0-0	1	2
leone, Emma	1	3	0-0	1	11
Ronhovde, Shannon	2	0	1-4	2	5
Oehrlerking, Lindsay	0	0	0-0	0	0
Justesen, Hanna	2	0	2-3	3	6
Backemeyer, B.	0	0	1-2	0	1
Bornemeier, Tara	0	0	0-0	1	0
Scholting, Mirissa	0	0	0-0	1	0
Bowman, Lauren	0	0	3-4	1	3
Schamle, Megan	5	0	3-4	1	13
Totals	15	5	12-21	14	57
	Statistics are unofficial