Belle Pauli Racks Up 28 Points and 23 Rebounds in Florence-Henry Win

Belle Pauli, a 5’ 10” sophomore for the Lady Bulldogs, racked up 28 points and 23 rebounds in last night’s 53-31 victory over Florence-Henry on the road. Pauli also added four assists and a steal. She was perfect at the free throw line – hitting 8 of 8–  to cap her stellar performance.

Double-double records have yet to move into the digital age, but the leaders for rebounds in a single game has been compiled by the South Dakota Basketball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame lists Cathy Rhyne of Deuel as the record holder for the last 50 years. She made 34 rebounds in one game in 1976. Roxy Murphy of Edgemont followed her with the 32 she made in 1980. Kiristin Severt of Alcester-Hudson is third on the list with the 30 she pulled down in 1986. 

Glenda Hartman made 29 for Hanson in 1981. Tausha Bohnenblust of Vermillion tied her in 1984. Jenna VandeWeerd of Canton put up 28 in 2023. Stephanie Torkelson of Howard and Kary Vomacka of Gregory each made 27 in one game. Torkelson in 2006 and Vomacka in 2009. Steph Doering and Tami Jones, both of Viborg, each made 26 in a game in 1984. Gina Hammon of Rapid City Christian joined them in 1987. Loni Humphrey of Wall made 25 in a game in 2008. The list concludes with 13 players who  made 24 rebounds in a single game ranging in dates from 1979-2022.  

The Lady Bulldogs’ defense held Florence-Henry to an average of less than eight points per quarter and gave them only eight chances at the free throw line. Adding to the scoring, senior Anna Neugebauer also produced a double-double for Milbank.. She made 12 points and 11 rebounds. Neugebauer added an assist and a steal. Freshman Violet Johnson made 12 points, two assists, and two rebounds. Eighth-grader Susie Schuneman made a free throw and contributed four assists and two rebounds. Sophomore Bree Townsend made three assists, four rebounds, and a steal. Bailee Hendricks, a freshman, made two assists, one rebound, and two steals. Sophomore Lydia Gall grabbed two rebounds.

The Lady Bulldogs hit 42 percent of their shots from the floor. They made just 14 percent from beyond the arc. From the line, they downed 11 of 13 for a solid 85 percent.

The Lady Falcons’ leading scorer was Ashlynn Vavruska.with 11 points, one assist, one rebound, and three steals. Lucy Bloom made six points and one rebound. Avari Gusso added four points, two assists, and four rebounds. Aubrey Johnson made three points and a rebound. Mylee Sumner made two points, five assists, and four rebounds. Adison and Ana Byer each made two points and two rebounds. Adison added two assists. Madison Stemwedel hit a free throw.

Florence-Henry made 23 percent of their shots from the floor. They hit four of 16 from long range. The Lady Falcons dropped in three of eight at the charity stripe for 37.5 percent.

MILBANK                       14     17     16      6       53
FLORENCE-HENRY       9      10       6       6      31

With the win, the Lady Bulldogs improved to 13-4 this season. Milbank travels to Tri-Valley on Saturday, February 14, to take on the Lady Mustangs (9-6).

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