Dave Donarski was a happy coach as he sat down with assistant Bob Kachel for a scouting session on Friday afternoon.
The Aquinas High School girls basketball coach wasn’t thrilled with the preparation time his Blugolds had for an upcoming nonconference game against Division 1 Sun Prairie West on Monday, but he could tackle the battle plan right after watching his team play its best game of the season against a powerhouse opponent from Minnesota.
Aquinas (6-3) entertained Caledonia during a busy day at the Reinhart Athletic Complex and put together a solid performance that included 23 points and 15 rebounds from junior Sammy Davis in a 57-50 victory over the Warriors (8-2).
“I thought how we competed early is the best I’ve ever seen this group,” Donarski said. “That’s the best segment of basketball we’ve played this year.
“We talked to the kids about some stuff we have to tune up when it comes to pressure, but if they continue to play as hard as they played today, we’re gonna be in good shape.”
The Blugolds won their fifth game in a row and handed Caledonia its second straight loss by pushing its lead into double figures very early and holding it there until late in the second half. Davis stayed out of foul trouble against the taller Warriors, and sophomore Ava Fernholz turned an aggressive offensive performance into a season-high 17 points.
Davis coming through in a big game and the offensive and defensive combination provided by point guards Fernholz and sophomore Eva Willenbring really sparked the Blugolds in a game that will only build confidence.
Caledonia represented a significant challenge with its size, experience and balance, but Aquinas found a way to prevail and continue the turnaround in a season that began with three losses over the first four games.
“Eva and Ava were so dynamic defensively,” said Donarski, whose team had eight players with at least one assist. “Olivia Passehl also did a nice job defensively, and we needed all of that against that team.
“Ava and Eva also really kind of came out of their shells offensively, and that was great to see.”
Davis and Fernholz combined to make 15 of 27 shots, and Willenbring knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to keep the Warriors chasing throughout the game.
Junior Nicole Banse scored 21 points for the Warriors and made three of her four 3-pointers in the second half. Aquinas had a 34-22 halftime lead before she started to pull her team back into it.
Banse’s 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 41 seconds left got Caledonia within 52-44, and senior Sienna Augedahl’s putback made it 55-47 with 38.6 seconds to go, but Davis always seemed to have the answer for the Blugolds. She immediately answered Banse’s 3 with a putback at the other end and pushed the lead back to 10 after Augedahl’s hoop with a steal and basket.
“She was dynamic from the get-go, and I think she had seven of our first eight rebounds, and she made a bunch of shots right away,” Donarski said of Davis, who is averaging 15.6 points per game after two straight 23-point performances. “When she let that 3 fly, she drilled it.
“To have a double-double like that against a team that is as long, athletic and well-coached as Caledonia is a big statement game for her.”
Seniors Josie Foster and Aubrie Klug added 10 points apiece for the Warriors, who play at West Salem (8-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Senior Kathryn Savoldelli added seven points — all of them in the first half — for the Blugolds.
