Heartbreak for Eagles Girls: Lewis Absence Leads to Tough Loss Against Tigers

Photo by Jake McNeill – New Ulm’s McKenna Hulke attempts a layup during a girls basketball game against the Marshall Tigers on Thursday.

By Jake McNeill

sports@nujournal.com

MARSHALL — The New Ulm girls basketball team faced a tough challenge against the top-ranked Marshall Tigers on Thursday night. Without the key player Brooklyn Lewis, the Eagles struggled and lost 80-53, ending their five-game winning streak.

“She’s the director on the court,” said New Ulm coach Julie Rogers about Lewis. Despite her absence, Maddie Backer stepped up well. “Backer had to cover for Brooklyn last year, and she did a great job. I wish I could give the girls more rest, but we’re a bit short on the bench.”

Reese Drake led the Tigers with 28 points, scoring 17 in the first half. Marshall dominated, with four players reaching double figures by halftime.

“It’s always nice when the ball goes in the basket,” said Marshall coach Dan Westby. He noted the team’s first-half performance was impressive, mentioning their 51 points. “We had four kids in double figures at halftime, which is pretty rare. If we meet New Ulm again, they’ll be a different team with Brooklyn back.”

Marshall’s defense was strong from the start, holding New Ulm scoreless for the first three minutes and quickly taking a 10-0 lead. Drake contributed six of those points.

New Ulm managed to cut the lead to five after a 3-pointer from Morgan Hulke, but Marshall responded swiftly to regain control. Taleigha Bigler hit a three-pointer from deep, bringing the lead back to 15-5.

As the game progressed, both teams struggled to break through the defense. New Ulm’s Hulke led her team with nine points by halftime, while Drake’s strong performance kept Marshall in front at 51-29.

Drake finished the game shooting 69% from the field and recorded nine assists. Bigler added eight assists, showcasing the Tigers’ strong teamwork.

Marshall maintained its lead in the second half, at one point pulling ahead by 32 points. New Ulm fought hard but struggled to find their rhythm. Coach Rogers praised her team’s effort, stating, “I’m proud of them for giving their all. We need to refine our offense, and that’s what we will work on next.”

New Ulm ended with equal ground in rebounds against Marshall, each team securing six offensive and twelve defensive boards. Hulke recorded 17 points and was a key player for New Ulm.

Marshall’s win improved their record to 16-0, while New Ulm dropped to 9-5. The Tigers, now focused on their next game against Fairmont, look to keep their momentum going. New Ulm aims to regain their confidence against Byron this Saturday.

“Every game teaches us something new,” Rogers said. “We’ll tighten our strategies in practice and prepare for our next challenge.”