Strycker scores 20, McKaig adds 9 as Pioneer advances to sectional final

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Makenna Strycker Mia McKaig

Girls basketball

Pioneer 38, North White 27 (Friday): Makenna Strycker scored 20 points, and Mia McKaig hit three 3-pointers in the first half and had nine as the Pioneer girls basketball team topped North White in a Class 1A, Sectional 50 semifinal at West Central Friday.

Pioneer hit five first-half 3-pointers as a team – Strycker and Avery Haselby also connected from deep – and built a 25-15 halftime lead.

They stretched the lead to 35-22 after three quarters. All three Pioneer points in the fourth quarter came on Strycker free throws.

Autumn Reif led North White with 10 points, and freshman guard Ella Hunt had seven, all in the first quarter.

Pioneer improved to 12-12. North White finished 9-15.

Pioneer went 11 for 17 from the foul line while North White was three for four. Pioneer’s opponents have attempted only six free throws in two sectional games.

Pioneer will face Tri-County in the sectional final at 7 p.m. tonight. No. 5 Tri-County beat West Central 51-25 in Friday’s first semifinal.

Tri-County beat Pioneer 62-18 in the season opener for both teams Nov. 9.

NORTH WHITE (27) (9-15)

Abigail Tribbett 1 0-0 2, Kaylyn Applegate 1 0-0 2, Ella Hunt 2 1-2 7, Sable George 1 0-0 3, Autumn Reif 4 2-2 10, Morgan Carter 1 0-0 3, Madyson Westerhouse 0 0-0 0, Katelyn Westerhouse 0 0-0 0

TEAM: 10 3-4 27

PIONEER (38) (12-12)

Makenna Strycker 5 9-15 20, Mia McKaig 3 0-0 9, Julia McGrew 0 0-0 0, Kynzie Hathaway 1 0-0 2, Hannah Zeigler 1 0-0 2, Avery Haselby 1 0-0 3,

Michelle Harding 0 2-2 2

TEAM: 11 11-17 38

Three-point field goals:

North White 4 (Hunt 2, George, Carter),

Pioneer 5 (McKaig 3, Haselby, Strycker)

Total fouls: North White 14, Pioneer 10

Turnovers: North White 17, Pioneer 11

Score by quarters

North White 7 8 7 5 – 27

Pioneer 16 9 10 3 – 38