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Local SportsWIAA Girls' State Tourney: Barneveld 49, Burlington Catholic Central 43By Jenn Rourke
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Brooke Allen scored 15 points, and Barneveld went inside in the third quarter to overpower Burlington Catholic Central 49-43 Friday in the Division 4 semifinals of the WIAA State High School Girls Basketball Tournament.
Barneveld (23-3) will play defending champion Flambeau (25-1) in the title game at 12:05 p.m. Saturday.
After Catholic Central led throughout the first half, Barneveld took the lead with five straight points following three turnovers. It came in minutes with Allen starting the mini-run with 5:53 left in the quarter, and Nicole Moyer following with a free throw and layup.
It became a 7-0 run and a 29-23 lead when Caitlin Jordee scored inside after Burlington missed two free throws.
After Burlington's Carol Henney scored, the Golden Eagles used a 6-0 run started by another 3-pointer by Allen to make it a 10-point lead.
"Every point we scored, we got more confident, and then we got back and played good defense," Allen said.
The quarter ended 35-28 and the Golden Eagles held off the Lady Toppers despite a few anxious moments after the lead was chopped to 39-36 with 4:23 left.
However, they made enough free throws -- four by freshman Courtney Sullivan -- to offset two long 3-pointers by Kayle Kempton, the game's top scorer with 17 points.
"I just put the ball up and hoped they'd go in," Kempton said of her late 3-pointers.
Allen was the lone Barneveld player in double figures, but she got considerable help from Katie Sutter and Sullivan, who had nine points apiece, and Amanda Curtis, who came off the bench and grabbed nine rebounds.
Alexa Deacon added 11 points for Catholic Central, which shot only 33 percent (14-for-42). That paled on comparison to Barneveld's 52 percent (16-31). The Toppers also were out-rebounded 31-20.
"The strength of our game is usually rebounding," Catholic Central coach Henry Fleck said. "We weren't moving the ball the way we're capable. We didn't move the ball the way we should have against their zone."
Barneveld coach Jim Myers said his team played much better after taking the lead.
"I thought once we got the lead, the kids got a little more confident," he said. "We were fortunate to get by them today. They're a good team. They're young, and they'll be back."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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