The West Salem girls basketball team hoists the WIAA Division 2 sectional title after defeating McFarland 65-61 on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Megan Johnson (42) dribbles into traffic while guarded by McFarland freshman Brooke DeShong (3) during a WIAA Division 2 girls basketball sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
BARABOO, Wis. — Senior guard Megan Johnson’s teammates on the West Salem High School girls basketball may have known Saturday would be a big game for her before she knew herself.
“(Sophomore) Addy Ferguson came in the locker room and hyped me up a little bit,” Johnson said. “All of my teammates, they’re there for me and they encouraged me the whole time.”
Johnson scored 11 straight points for the top-seeded Panthers in their first half of their WIAA Division 2 sectional final game against top-seeded McFarland at Baraboo. In the second half, she scored the first six points and led the charge toward back-to-back state finals appearance.
Johnson scored a career-high 40 points and led the Panthers to a 65-61 win over McFarland for a WIAA Division 2 sectional championship in their first year at the higher division.
“More than just the last few weeks, they’ve worked so hard in the offseason,” West Salem coach Mike Malott said in the team’s 12th straight and 11th under Malott after he took over on Jan 27. “They made state last year in Division 3 and everyone put us in a spot where they didn’t think we could do that because we got bumped up to Division 2. They exceeded expectations, and I’m just so proud of them.”
West Salem (24-4) will play a state semifinal game Friday afternoon at the Resch Center in Green Bay against an opponent to be determined by the WIAA reseeding. The Division 2 state final is slated to tip off at 6:35 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s excitement right now but right now we have to get back on the grind and focus on what’s next,” Johnson said.
After their shooting went cold in the second half, the Spartans (22-6) hit four 3-pointers in the closing minutes to shrink the Panthers 10-point lead down to just two. Johnson managed to escape double coverage on a late inbound and find junior guard Sydney Quick with 4.5 seconds left. Quick was intentionally fouled, making both free throws to secure the win.
“We did what we needed to do,” Malott said. “I wish we made more free throws, we didn’t shoot real well the last few minutes. Instead of a four-point game we could have been up by 10.”
Johnson spearheaded a second half attack at the basket for the Panthers with just one made 3-pointer in a 38-point half. It was far from a one-person show however, as the team worked to put the Spartans top players in foul trouble.
Senior wing Teagan Mallegni picked up her fourth foul with 8:20 remaining and senior guard Brynn Kirch picked up her fourth foul with 7:34 left. Senior guard Hailey Testolin wound up being the only McFarland player to foul out, but the damage had been done in putting the Spartans on their heels.
“Megan did a great job, but it wasn’t just her,” Malott said. “It wasn’t just about (Mallegni) either. Hailey Testolin fouled out for them, their point guard and three before the four minute mark of the first half. We talked about attacking their entire team. We knew it’d be crucial to find a way to sit Teagan down a little bit. She’s a great player.”
Mallegni, who’ll play college basketball at Iowa, finished with 29 points off six 3-pointers. Mallegni was a defensive force in the paint with three blocks in the first half, but the post pressure on the other end never came.
“We knew we had to slow her because you can’t stop her,” Johnson said. “We focused hard on not letting her get inside and I think that worked to our advantage.”
Two of Mallegni’s deep shots came in the Spartans 11-2 run during the opening 3:20 of the game before a West Salem timeout.
Another 9-0 run with six points from Mallegni put West Salem down 22-12, but Johnson scored 11 points with a breakaway basket by sophomore Josie Brudos. Free throws by Quick gave the Panthers a brief lead before McFarland reclaimed a 28-27 advantage at halftime.
“We talked about some of the stuff we saw on film,” Malott said. “We saw them do that to a few other teams this year and you just have to keep playing. We tell the kids all the time that the first four minutes of a game are important, but not the most important…We got ourselves into a spot at halftime that was manageable.”
Three quick baskets by Johnson put West Salem in control early in the second half. Brudos had a basket and a pair of free throws in the second half to be finish with six points. Quick finished with six points as well along with junior forward Sam Niemeier, who hit two of the Panthers’ four 3-pointers.
“We’ve always been a second half team, so we knew we’d have to come out and do what we need to do to get the job done,” Johnson said.
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The West Salem girls basketball team hoists the WIAA Division 2 sectional title after defeating McFarland 65-61 on Saturday at Baraboo.
West Salem junior Megan Johnson (42) dribbles into traffic while guarded by McFarland freshman Brooke DeShong (3) during a WIAA Division 2 girls basketball sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
West Salem senior Reece Sackett (10) and McFarland senior Teagan Mallengi (55) fight for the opening tip off during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
McFarland senior Teagan Mallegni (55) gets a piece of a shot by West Salem sophomore Josie Brudos (20) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
The McFarland girls basketball team celebrates an 11-2 opening run during a timeout in their WIAA Division 2 sectional final game against West Salem on Saturday at Baraboo.
West Salem senior Reece Sackett (10) is guarded by McFarland senior Hailey Testolin (14) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
The West Salem student section cheers their team on as junior Sam Niemeier (40) inbounds the ball during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
McFarland senior Brynn Kirch (4) tries to defend a layup by West Salem junior Brynlee (12) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
The West Salem girls basketball team celebrates after time expires in their 65-61 win over McFarland in the WIAA Division 2 sectional finals on Saturday at Baraboo.
The West Salem student section mobs their girls basketball team after winning their WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
West Salem junior Megan Johnson cuts down a piece of the net after the Panthers won the WIAA Division 2 section finals 65-61 against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
Scenes from West Salem girls basketball's WIAA Division 2 sectional win
The West Salem Panthers clinched a spot in the WIAA Division 2 state tournament with a 65-61 win over McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo High School
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The West Salem girls basketball team hoists the WIAA Division 2 sectional title after defeating McFarland 65-61 on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Megan Johnson (42) dribbles into traffic while guarded by McFarland freshman Brooke DeShong (3) during a WIAA Division 2 girls basketball sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem senior Reece Sackett (10) and McFarland senior Teagan Mallengi (55) fight for the opening tip off during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
McFarland senior Teagan Mallegni (55) gets a piece of a shot by West Salem sophomore Josie Brudos (20) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
The McFarland girls basketball team celebrates an 11-2 opening run during a timeout in their WIAA Division 2 sectional final game against West Salem on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Megan Johnson (42) spins away from McFarland senior Brynn Kirch (4) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Sam Niemeier (40) shoots over McFarland senior Hailey Testolin (14) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Megan Johnson (42) shoots a 3-pointer during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem senior Reece Sackett (10) is guarded by McFarland senior Hailey Testolin (14) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Megan Johnson (42) goes for a layup during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem sophomore Josie Brudos (20) shoots a 3-pointer during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
The West Salem student section cheers their team on as junior Sam Niemeier (40) inbounds the ball during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
McFarland senior Teagan Mallengi (55) puts up a shot during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against West Salem on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem players head to the locker room at halftime of a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
McFarland senior Brynn Kirch (4) tries to defend a layup by West Salem junior Brynlee (12) during a WIAA Division 2 sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Megan Johnson walks to the bench during a timeout in the WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem coach Mike Malott watches on during his team's WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Sydney Quick (22) shoots free throws late in a WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
The West Salem girls basketball team celebrates after time expires in their 65-61 win over McFarland in the WIAA Division 2 sectional finals on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
The West Salem girls basketball team raises their trophy after winning the WIAA Division 2 sectional finals against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
The West Salem student section mobs their girls basketball team after winning their WIAA Division 2 sectional final against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
West Salem junior Megan Johnson cuts down a piece of the net after the Panthers won the WIAA Division 2 section finals 65-61 against McFarland on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
The West Salem girls basketball team poses with their WIAA Division 2 regional title on Saturday at Baraboo.
James Krause, River Valley Media Group
James Krause can be reached by email at James.KrauseJr@lee.net or on Twitter @jkrausepro.
WIAA STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
At the Resch Center, Green Bay
DIVISION 2
Friday's semifinals
(4) West Salem (24-4) vs. (1) Pewaukee (27-1), 1:35 p.m.
(3) Wauwatosa East (23-5) vs. (1) Green Bay Notre Dame (27-1), immediately following first semifinal
West Salem junior Megan Johnson (42) dribbles into traffic while guarded by McFarland freshman Brooke DeShong (3) during a WIAA Division 2 girls basketball sectional final on Saturday at Baraboo.