The Road to Green Bay for the WIAA Girls Basketball State Championships takes a detour to Crivitz on Thursday when Sevastopol faces off against top-seeded Wabeno-Laona.
Both teams won their respective conferences with the Pioneers taking the Packerland with an undefeated mark while the Rebels earned a tie with Crandon for the Northern Lakes crown.
The Pioneers earned their spot with wins over Suring and Lena on consecutive nights. The team rode their defense to their first regional championship since 1985 when they beat Lena 56-19 in front of a partisan crowd in Institute last Saturday night. Naomi Rikkola scored six of her 12 points and Libby Ash connected on one of her two three-pointers to stake the Pioneers to an 18-5 lead at the break. Bailey Rikkola came alive in the second half, scoring 13 of her game-high 16 points in the second half, while Kayla Ranly combined her hard-nosed defense with six second-half points.
The Rebels won a blowout against Wausaukee and close game against Niagara to take their spot opposite the Pioneers in the sectional semifinal. In their 49-45 victory over Niagara in the regional final, Malerie Krawze scored 11 points and Allison Albrecht added 10 points in the win. This is the second straight year the Rebels have appeared in the sectional round, losing last year in the final to eventual state runner-up Assumption.
Tim Kowols and Reece Robillard will have the call from Crivitz Thursday night on U 102.1 and NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com beginning at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show followed by the opening tip at 7 p.m.
Click here to listen to our interview with head girls' basketball coach Ben Rikkola
