Pioneers Win D5 Regional Girls Hoops Title

Sevastopol’s girls basketball team poses for pictures after winning Saturday’s WIAA Division 5 regional championship at home against Lena, 56-19. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

For the first time since the mid 1980s, Sevastopol’s girls basketball team is a regional champion.

The No. 2-seeded Pioneers won their WIAA Division 5 regional title game Saturday with a 56-19 home victory over No. 3-seeded Lena.

Sevastopol’s full-court defensive pressure limited the Wildcats to five first-half points with the Pioneers leading by 13 points at intermission.

Bailey Rikkola ended up leading Sevastopol with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Naomi Rikkola added 12 points.

Whitney Potter led Lena with six points.

The Pioneers, who improved to 25-1 overall, will face top-seeded Wabeno/Laona in the sectional semifinal Thursday at 7 pm in Crivitz. The winner advances to the sectional title game next Saturday at 2 pm in Rhinelander to face the winner of the other semifinal between Edgar and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption.

Pioneers Slam Suring in Regional Semifinal

Sevastopol advanced to the regional title game after winning Friday’s semifinal at home against No. 7-seeded Suring, 61-34.

Bailey Rikkola led the Pioneers with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Kayla Ranly added 10 points.

Christine Sleeter led the Eagles with 17 points.