Girls basketball: Red Raiders tip Spartans, 45-38

The Brookfield East girls basketball squad dropped a 45-38 decision to Wauwatosa East on Friday at Brookfield East to stay winless in the Greater Metro Conference (0-8).

The Spartans (3-13 overall) were led by freshman wing Kellie Goodman and junior forward Lauren Kennedy with 10 points each. Kennedy also grabbed 10 rebounds for her first career double-double.

"Lauren Kennedy had her best game of the season," Spartans coach Kelly Lam said. "She was aggressive on offense and really attacked the boards. She had five offensive rebounds at half.

"Not only did she play well, she also provided great leadership. Even after she fouled out, I could hear her cheer on her teammates."

Brookfield East trailed by only 16-12 at intermission, but then went on a 15-2 tear in the third quarter to take a 27-18 lead into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Red Raiders tied the game in the fourth quarter with a 15-6 run and sent it into overtime tied at 33-33.

"We had the ball for a last-second shot but missed it and the game went into overtime. Overall, it was a back-and-forth minute and a half."

Tosa then outscored the Spartans, 12-5, in the extra period to win the game, with Maddie Packard scoring six of her nine points.

The Spartans have now dropped 10 of 11 games overall.

"At the end of the game, Tosa East got to the line and finished their free throws," Lam said. "Unfortunately, we did not."

Despite the team's loss, Lam has seen her team get better.

"We really have improved over the last couple of weeks. All the girls are gaining confidence and starting to let the game come to them," she said. "There are still moments that we go back to our old habits but that is what you'd expect with a young team. Each game, we have less and less of those moments.

"We first started out playing one good quarter, then made our way up to two and I think yesterday we played a solid three quarters.

"I'm very happy with the progress of my girls and that they continue to work hard every day to get better."