The Sevastopol Pioneers girls basketball team will be in a similar situation to last year on Friday night when they welcome Wabeno/Laona to the Institute for the WIAA Regional Semifinal in the Division 5 Girls Basketball Tournament.

 

The Pioneers earned their spot with a resounding 70-13 win over Wausaukee on Tuesday. The game's early minutes started slow, but the traps started forcing turnovers, and the Pioneers slowly but surely pulled out to a 53-7 halftime lead. Kayla Ranly led the scorers in the first half with 15 of her game-leading 17 points. In all, 10 different Pioneers found their way into the score column, including Naoimi Rikkola with 10, Sienna Cain with 9, and Lyvia Duessler with 8.

 

Click here for pregame interview with head coach Ben Rikkola

 

The Rebels find themselves back in Institute for the second year in a row after beating St. Thomas Aquinas by an equally lopsided 50-12. They graduated three players from last year's squad that eliminated the Pioneers on the road 60-31 in the regional final before losing their next game to Lena. In that matchup, Allison Albrecht scored 16 points, and Lily Terry chipped in 13 points in the Rebels win. Naomi Rikkola was the lone Pioneers player to reach double figures with 15 points. 

 

In a matchup earlier this season, Kayla Ranly scored 25 points, and Rikkola added another 17 as the Pioneers beat the Rebels 63-43 in Wabeno. 

 

Jacob Nate and Tim Kowols will have the call from Sevastopol on U-102.1 beginning at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show followed by the opening tip at 7 p.m.