Stephenson Uses Inside Game To Outlast Gladstone

GLADSTONE---The Stephenson High School girls basketball team pulled down 40 rebounds and took advantage of their size advantage to beat the Gladstone Braves, 56-53, in an entertaining basketball game Tuesday night in Gladstone.

Stephenson center Tori Wangerin scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as she played all 32 minutes of the game. The Eagles stayed undefeated with a 7-0 record.

There were a couple of times where it looked like the Braves might be able to get some separation on the scoreboard. In the first quarter, Leigha Woelffer had seven points and made a beautiful bounce pass to Caitlyn Leisner for a basket, making it 13-6 Braves.

The Eagles went back to their inside game, however, as Wangerin scored eight points.

Later, in the second quarter, Woelffer had a three-pointer and two-point basket, and Alyssa Polley nailed a three and sank a long two. Gladstone had its biggest lead, 31-22.

But the Eagles closed the half on an 8-0 run, making it 31-30 at halftime.

The game was tight the rest of the way. Woelffer had a basket and foul shot with 3:30 left to put the Braves in front, 51-50. But the Eagles again attacked the basket, got to the line, and had a 54-53 lead in the final seconds. The Braves forced a turnover and had a chance to win, but Karlee Johnson stole the ball from Woelffer near the sideline.

Woelffer fouled Johnson, who made both free throws, making it a 56-53 game.

The Braves had another chance, but Woelffer forced a three-pointer from the top of the key with five seconds to play. It hit the rom and fell away, and Stephenson held on to win.

Woelffer led all scorers with 31 points. Tasi Martinez had six points and had the tough chore of guarding Wangerin inside the paint.

Gladstone caused several turnovers that led to baskets with the trap defense in the first half, but the Eagles still pulled it out.

Gladstone, playing for the first time in three weeks, fell to 2-4 on the season.

The Braves beat the Eagles in the junior varsity game, 32-23.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos taken by Nate Bellville, and to listen to interviews with Braves Coach Karl Dollhopf and junior Tasi Martinez.