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Grocholski joins 2,000-point club; Gaier earns 500th win; other news

02/03/2023, 2:15pm CST
By Norbert Durst

Grocholski reaches milestone

Kettle Moraine senior Grace Grocholski scored a career-high 35 points and went over 2,000 points in her career during Tuesday's 77-55 win over Muskego. 

The 5-10 wing added seven rebounds and five assists in the victory.

Grocholski is the 34th player in girls' basketball history to reach the milestone. 

The NCAA Division I West Virginia recruit is averaging 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.4 steals per game for coach Todd Hansen and the defending Division 1 state champions. 

The Lasers, ranked No. 1 in the Division 1 WisSports.net Coaches Poll, are 18-1 overall and 11-0 in the Classic Eight. 

Kettle Moraine's most recent win was against D1 No. 7 Arrowhead, 56-52, with Grocholski netting a game-high 29 points. The Lasers ended the game on a 15-3 run. 

Gaier earns 500th career win

Neillsville head coach John Gaier earned his 500th career victory last week. 

Gaier is currently 502-113 overall with a 445-71 record (.862 winning percentage) as the girls' coach at Neillsville.

He has guided the Warriors to all six of their state tournament appearances, including winning the Division 4 state championship in 2012. 

Neillsville is 19-0 overall and 13-0 in the Cloverbelt East. They are ranked No. 7 in the Division 4 WSN Coaches Poll, one of five unbeaten teams remaining in the state, and have won 54 consecutive conference games, the third-longest active winning streak in the state for league games.   

Smith wins 300th game

Jefferson head coach Dena Smith won her 300th career game on Thursday night when the Eagles defeated Whitewater, 40-37.

Smith is in her second stint as Jefferson's head coach. She guided the Eagles to the Division 2 state championship in 2005. 

Dena also had coaching stops at Shell Lake, West Allis Central, and Lake Mills, compiling a 300-204 record. 

Jefferson is currently 9-11 overall and 7-7 in the Rock Valley. 

Top Scoring Performances this week

Winneconne senior Joey Perry dropped a career-best 40 points in Monday's 60-48 win over defending Division 3 state champion Waupun (D3 #8). Perry, a 5-7 point guard, is averaging 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.8 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game for coach Andrea Flease and the Wolves, 8-12 overall and 5-5 in the East Central. 

Reedsburg junior Sydney Cherney scored 38 points on Monday in a 75-63 loss to Edgewood. Cherney, a 5-9 guard, leads the state with 31.3 points per game and has three performances with over 40 points, scoring a program-record 50 points in a win over Monona Grove last month. Cherney, who holds four NCAA Division II offers, also tallies 12.4 rebounds per game for coach Mark Simon and the 17-4 Beavers. 

Wilmot junior McKenna Johnson netted 37 points in the Panthers' 52-48 victory against Burlington on Tuesday. The 5-8 lefty guard is seventh in the state in scoring with 25.4 points per game for coach Keith Skrzynecki and the Panthers, 6-15 overall and 3-8 in the Southern Lakes. Johnson, who holds several NCAA Division I offers, scored a career-high 47 points against Burlington earlier in the season. 

Altoona junior Alyssa Wirth scored a career-high 35 points in the Railroaders' 59-52 win over Colfax on Tuesday. Wirth, a 6-5 center, is averaging 15.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game for coach Michelle Peplinski and the Railroaders, 10-8 overall and 5-4 in the Middle Border. Wirth is committed to the University of Minnesota. Altoona handed conference leader Prescott its first league loss of the season on Thursday, winning 53-47. 

For the latest and most up to date girls' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Norbert on Twitter @NorbertDurst. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Norbert

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