It was an exciting weekend of basketball as the Hayward 6th Grade Girls Basketball team traveled to Chippewa Falls to participate in the Great Northwest League Championship. The Hayward girls placed an impressive 2nd place beating two division 1 teams to get to the Championship game. They ended up losing to a good Wausau area team 39-30. The Great Northwest League is comprised of a hundred plus teams throughout Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota. The league does not separate these teams based on the size of school. The results for all seven games were as follows:
Pool Play Games (8 pools of 4 teams)
Hayward vs. Stillwater 39-16 W
Hayward vs. Goodhue 24-20 W
Hayward vs. Chippewa Falls 27-18 W
Top 16 round
Hayward – Merrill 31-21 W
Top 8 Bracket
#5 Hayward - #4 Holmen 24-21 W
#5 Hayward – #1 Hudson 32-16 W
#3 DC Everest (Wausau) – #5 Hayward 30-39 L
What makes this team special is the contribution to our success from so many girls. While Madelyn Neff, Carly Somerville, Maren Gullingsrud, and Trinity Myer all played up to their potential and dominated in the scoring column, we had many other girls come off the bench and make critical plays for us. Rachel Halberg played with intensity every game – making key defensive plays when they really needed them. Katelyn LeBlanc came off the bench throughout the seven games to give the team well timed scores and rebounds. Anna Stark and Megan Messa had some awesome defensive stops and solid offensive play throughout the tournament. Paige Messa and Paige Sulley came in to give the team solid minutes in most of the games. Every one of them would be worthy of the sixth player award. All these girls seem to already understand the concept of team basketball. They all show up for practice and work hard helping each other improve. The 6th Grade girls represented the Hayward area with exceptional character and dedication. Hayward should be Proud of them. The 6th grade girls are coached by Greg Neff and Tim Gullingsrud.
2011-2012 Great Northwest Basketball League Schedule
The mission of HGBA is to provide a competitive, traveling, basketball experience for girls in grades 5th – 8th. Our association was organized in 1988 to provide additional time for the “accelerated” player and to play at an increased level of competition. The HGBA provides an experience which develops good sportsmanship, sound fundamental skills, team play, knowledge of the game and preparation for playing basketball at the high school level.
A mandatory parent meeting will be held. This meeting will be set up in the near future and will probably be at the beginning of the first practice. (This will follow the completion of the school league, so probably the end of November or beginning of December.) The HGBA team rules, practice schedules and tournament schedules will be discussed at this time. Each parent and athlete must sign the Team Rules Agreement before the practice begins.