Thunderbirds rally past Watertown for first Badger Large victory
The Baraboo Thunderbirds women’s basketball team erased an early nine-point deficit and closed out a tight second half to earn a 61-57 road win at Watertown on Friday night, securing the program’s first Badger Large Conference victory.
Trailing in the first half after a slow start, Baraboo flipped the game with a decisive surge before halftime. The Thunderbirds put together a 13-3 run over the final five minutes of the first half, tightening up defensively and turning stops into transition opportunities. Freshman guard Maddison Litscher gave Baraboo its first lead at the 2:24 mark with a drive to the basket, and the momentum stayed with the Thunderbirds the rest of the half.
Forward Madilyn Gilbert delivered the final blow of the opening half, knocking down a 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to send Baraboo into the locker room with a seven-point advantage. The stretch not only erased Watertown’s early control but also showcased the balance in Baraboo’s attack, with multiple players contributing during the run.
Watertown, the Goslings, responded after the break and pushed Baraboo throughout the second half. The game tightened as Watertown chipped away at the margin, but the Thunderbirds never surrendered their lead. Baraboo’s defense came up with timely stops, and the group managed late-game possessions effectively enough to keep the Goslings from completing the comeback.
Freshman guard Maddison Litscher led the Thunderbirds’ backcourt with 15 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, impacting the game on both ends of the floor. Forward Adalynn Thompson paced Baraboo inside with a team-high 17 points and 9 rebounds, providing consistent scoring in the paint. Guard Sara Tews added 11 points, 4 assists and 6 rebounds, helping stabilize the offense and extend possessions in critical moments.
While those three headlined the box score, Baraboo’s coaching staff credited contributions from the entire rotation in closing out the program’s milestone conference win. From the defensive effort that fueled the late first-half run to the composure shown during Watertown’s final push, the Thunderbirds turned a difficult road test into a statement result in Badger Large play.
With the 61-57 victory, Baraboo adds an important confidence-building result as conference play continues, showing the ability to respond to adversity, finish close games and lean on a growing core of impact performers.
