APPLETON, WI- The Hortonville Polar Bears are back to State after a 71-54 win over Neenah in a rematch of last years Sectional Semifinal.
Sophomore Rainey Welson had a career high 41 points, a school single game record, and was 16 of 17 from the free throw line.
The Polar Bears jumped out to a early lead and led from start from finish. Welson herself was outscoring the entire Neenah team until midway through the second half.
“This was the goal at the start of the season, and I am feeling on top of the world right now,” Welson said.
Coach A.C. Clouthier says his defense came to play. “The girls played so calm and collective today,” he said.
Last year, Neenah topped Hortonville in the Sectional after a controversial travel call resulted in a technical foul that allowed the Rockets to secure the win from the free throw line. This is the second straight season that Neenah has lost in the Sectional Final, and the second time that they fell to a fellow conference team in the game before State.
Junior Allie Ziebell carried Neenah with 26 points and ended the season 1,995 career points.
Hortonville returns to the State Tournament for the first time since 2020. The Polar Bears did not get to play at game at State that year as the tournament was cancelled due to COVID after the first day. Prior to that, the Polar Bears qualified for State in 2019, 2018 and 2017 in Division 2, but have not won a State Tournament game in that stretch.
Other Sectional Final Scores
Division 1
Germantown 94, Kimberly 67
Division 2
Lakeland 70, Menomonie 69
Notre Dame 86, Cedarburg 60
Division 3
#1 Freedom vs #2 Kewauskum 7:00pm at Denmark
Division 4
Mishicot 56, St. Mary Catholic 55
Division 5
Wabeno/Laona 53, Edgar 43
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