BLAIRSBURG - The effort was there, but the consistency shooting was not for the Northeast Hamilton girls' basketball team here last night.
Trojets' head coach Bret Schutt found plenty of positives after his team's 43-34 non-conference loss to West Bend-Mallard, but the difference was again a poor performance at the offensive end of the floor.
"The girls really battled and hung together even when things weren't going right and you can't be upset with that," he said. "I feel good about the way we're playing right now, but not great about the way we're shooting."
West Bend-Mallard (6-7) jumped out to a 19-10 halftime lead and never relinquished the upper-hand over the final 16 minutes of action. The Wolverines pushed the advantage to double digits following three quarters, 32-19.
Molly Greenfield led NEH (3-10) 18 points. Sarah Elm dropped in eight.
Kayla Banwart notched 12 points for WB-M. Ashley Schmidt added nine, and Cassie Gearhart walked off the floor with eight.
Fact Box
WB-Mallard 43, NE Hamilton 34
West Bend-Mallard (6-7) - Kayla Banwart 3 6-8 12, Kenzie Grimm 2 3-4 7, Sarah Mader 1 0-0 2, Courtney Bargman 1 1-2 4, Ashley Schmidt 3 3-4 9, Kaylee Lanus 0 1-2 1, Cassie Gearhart 4 0-0 8. Totals: 14 14-20 43.
Northeast Hamilton (3-10) - Jenn Willems 1 0-2 2, Jennifer Jeffers 0 1-2 1, Andi Anderson 1 1-2 3, Sarah Elm 3 0-1 8, Whitney Schutt 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Massman 1 0-0 2, Molly Greenfield 6 5-6 18. Totals: 12 7-13 34.
Quarter scores - WB-M led 7-5, 19-10 and 32-19. 3-point field goals - WB-M 1 (Bargman); NEH 3 (Elm 2, Greenfield). Team fouls - WB-M 17, NEH 21. Fouled out - Schutt, Elm.