Hurley meets Northwood tonight, seeks first sectional game win since 1980

By JASON JUNO

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Hurley - Top-seed Hurley will look for the program's first win in the sectional tournament in 40 years tonight when they take on No. 2 Northwood in a semifinal at Hayward at 7 p.m.

Hurley reached the sectional four straight seasons from 2009 through 2012, but they lost to Boyceville, Ladysmith and twice to Fall Creek in the semifinal.

Hurley has since moved down to Division 5 as its enrollment has dropped. Northwood has eliminated Hurley the past two years. The host Evergreens won 63-23 in a regional final when they were the 1 seed and Hurley was the 4 last year. Northwood won 44-22 in what was a 1-8 matchup in 2018.

"It's a great opportunity for my girls," Hurley coach Jim Kivisto said. "I talked to them (Wednesday), I said, 'Last year we lost to them by 40, we'll find out exactly how far we came (today)."

This year, Hurley earned the top seed over Northwood with its undefeated run through the Indianhead Conference and an overall record that included just three losses. Hurley is now 22-3.

Northwood comes in at 19-5 with four of their losses to state-ranked Clear Lake and Prairie Farm. The other was a surprising loss to 6 seed Luck in late February. Clear Lake plays Loyal in the other sectional semifinal tonight with the winner meeting Northwood or Hurley in the final at Superior Saturday at 1 p.m. Prairie Farm fell to Loyal in the regional final.

The Northstars won their first regional title since 2012 with Saturday's win over Siren and they hope to win their first sectional game since 1980 tonight.

The 1980 team beat previously unbeaten Prentice in the sectional semifinal 47-46 in double overtime and eventually advanced all the way to the state semifinal.

Northwood won't make it easy.

"They're strong, they're quick and they press," Hurley coach Jim Kivisto said. "They're going to put pressure on us. We're just going to have to match their intensity."

Kivisto attended the all-conference meeting Wednesday night and Indianhead coaches who have played Northwood this year told him Hurley can compete in this game.

"They said we can play with them if we come ready to play, so our kids are going to have to come ready to play and match their intensity," Kivisto said. "They play hard, we have to come right back at them.

"We're ready. Everybody here tonight said if you play right, you have enough bodies to play with them. The thing is the bright lights and everything else, is that finally going to get to them. No matter what, we've had a great year and we're going to try our best to get to the sectional final."

Both teams are young with four upperclassmen on each roster.

Hurley has received a huge offensive boost in the regional from its two freshmen, Courtney Corullo and Melissa DiGiorgio. Kivisto hopes the even bigger sectional stage doesn't deter his young team.

"We're going to find out (today)," he said. "Especially the two freshmen, eventually they're going to have to play like freshmen, hopefully not (tonight)."

Hurley's other big scoring threats are mostly sophomores - Olivia France, Nicole DiGiorgio and Kylee Hewitt. Junior Hailey Edyvean also provides a scoring punch.

Northwood won their regional convincingly with double-digit wins over three Indianhead teams, Washburn, Mellen and Drummond. One of their two 5-11 players, sophomore Emily Berg, returned from an injury in late February and she hit double figures in three of the five games she played and she is a key part of their press with her length. Northwood is still missing one injured player.

Northwood's 55-27 win over Drummond was a bit surprising because of the margin of victory. That was a one-point Northwood win in January, but Berg didn't play.

"They put pressure on and they couldn't handle it," Kivisto said of the regional final. "If we handle the ball against the press and don't turn it over, I think we'll have a chance."

Northwood's other 5-11 player is sophomore Emme Golembiewski, who leads the team 14.9 points per game and she has started in every game.

Cassidy Coons, a 5-7 senior forward, averages 10.7 points per game.