For the Rapids City Times

NEKOOSA – Nov. 15 was a special night for the Nekoosa Papermakers; they hosted the Port Edwards girls basketball team in their first game without long-time assistant coach Chris Stensberg.

Stensberg had passed away in late August due to cancer.  Head Coach Scott Linzmeier, and the rest of the Nekoosa girls team, decided to put together a benefit night in honor of Chris. Chris and his wife were big supporters of the “Central Wisconsin Gift of Life” program.  T-Shirts were sold, raffle baskets, and 50/50 drawings were held to raise money to support this wonderful cause.

After a presentation given by the team and brief video about the “Gift of Life” organization, the game was played. In the end it was Nekoosa that came away with the victory, 54-49, despite a late charge by the Blackhawks.

The Papermakers had the lead going into halftime, with Lexi Dye hitting a 3-pointer just seconds before the clock ended to put them up 35-24. Port Edwards made a comeback in the second half, holding Nekoosa to just 19 points and cutting the deficit to only three late in the game, but couldn’t get any closer than that.

Leading all scorers was Nekoosa’s Marissa Harnish with 23 points. Teammates Cassandra Mortel added 13, Dani Henrickson chipped in eight, Allison Elk had six, Lexi Dye had three, and Amanda Schaefbauer added one.

For Port Edwards, Jade Martin led the way with 20 points, connecting on four 3-pointers.  Brynna Hawk chipped in 12, with two 3-pointers of her own, followed by Kaitlyn Lyp with 10 and Taylor Martin with seven.

The Papermakers were 20 for 31 from the free throw line and had two three-pointers, one each from Dye and Harnish. The Blackhawks were 11 of 14 from the line and had eight 3-pointers, four from J.Martin, two from Hawk and one each from T. Martin and Lyp.

The Blackhawks fall to 0-2 to start their season.  They are next in action on Nov. 26 when they travel to New Lisbon.