Pickard carries Genoa to 17th straight win

GENOA - After starting the season with two losses in three games, you can call the Genoa Comets “butter,” because they’re on a roll.

Haley Pickard recorded a big double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead Genoa to its 17th consecutive win, this one a 48-38 non-league victory over Old Fort.

“I thought Old Fort gave us as good of a game as anyone has all year,” Genoa coach Mike DeStazio said. “They reached and were scrappy and got after us. I think we are better after this game.”

Pickard used a balance of agressiveness and a eye for grabbing offensive rebounds to pace the Comets (18-2).

“I think we pushed the ball and got to the basket,” Pickard said. “Them being quick will only get us ready for the tournament.”

A 3-pointer by Caylie Menkhoff put the Stockaders (13-7) ahead, 12-11, after one quarter. A 3-pointer from Allison Adelsperger made it 19-17, but Genoa did what all good teams do and that was finish the quarter strong. Haley Gerke made a 3-pointer and two scores from Emily Edwards put Genoa up, 24-19, at halftime.

“We actually hadn’t had the chance to scout Genoa, but we had heard good things about them,” Old Fort coach Jenny Ritzler said. “We knew they would press and we don’t usually have a problem breaking press. I thought we did a good job attacking their pressure.”

Scores by Erica Harder and Pickard opened a 30-21 lead with 5:37 left in the third quarter. The smaller, scrappy Stockaders didn’t go away without a fight. They used a 8-2 run to draw within 32-29 when Maddi Spencer scored, but scores by Pickard and Harder made it a seven-point game after three quarters.

“It’s good to be challenged a bit,” DeStazio said. “Pickard played as well and Caitlyn Shessler played good when Haley Gerke got hurt a little bit.”

Menkhoff hit her second 3-pointer of the night to draw Old Fort within four points, but that was the closest the Stockaders would get. They hung around for most of the quarter and only trailed 41-36 when Jordan Magers scored with 1:56 left, but Old Fort could not get any closer. The Comets scored seven of the last nine points of the game to finish off their 17th double-digit margin of victory in 18 wins.

“We are feeling good and ready for the tournament,” said Pickard. “We want to end the season well.”

Allison Adelsperger led Old Fort with 14 points while Mackenzie Ward hauled in 12 rebounds. The Stockaders made just 15-of-46 (32.6 percent) shots and committed 24 turnovers.

“We did not get to the line a lot but only making four of seven attempts is not good enough,” Ritzler said. “Our struggles right now are turnovers and at the free throw line. I think this is a step in the right direction.”

Edwards added 10 points for Genoa, who finishes the regular season Thursday at Lake (14-7).

“This was the type of test we needed before the tournament,” said DeStazio.

Stat Book

Old Fort 12-7-10-9 - 38

Genoa 11-13-12-12 - 48

Old Fort: 15-46 FG, 4-7 FT, 4-20 3pt (Menkhoff 2, Adelsperger 2), 32 rebounds (Ward 12), 24 turnovers. Scoring: Allison Adelsperger 5 2-2 14, Sydney Clouse 1 0-0 2, Mackenzie Ward 1 0-2 2, Jordan Magers 3 0-1 6, Sydney Hossler 2 0-0 4, Caylie Menkhoff 2 0-0 6, Whitney Bilger 0 2-2 2, Morgan Miller 0 0-0 0, Maddi Spencer 1 0-0 2, Hali Kimmet 0 0-0 0.

Genoa: 20-50 FG, 6-13 FT, 2-12 3pt (Gerke 2), 30 rebounds (Pickard 14), 15 turnovers. Scoring: Carly Gose 1 0-0 2, Haley Gerke 2 0-0 6, Haley Pickard 9 3-6 21, Erica Harder 4 1-3 9, Caitlyn Shessler 0 0-0 0, Emily Edwards 4 2-4 10, Kaylee Buhrow 0 0-0 0, Chayce McQueary 0 0-0 0, Jaynie Plantz 0 0-0 0.