Pewaukee holds off Cudahy charge

The Pewaukee girls basketball team played nearly flawlessly in the first half, then held off a furious Cudahy challenge to win on the road Tuesday night, 60-52. The win moved the Pirates to 13-0 and gave them momentum heading into a huge battle with visiting New Berlin Eisenhower (12-1) on Friday.

It was smooth sailing in the first two quarters, as Pewaukee used a 15-0 run to take a lead as large as 23 points before settling on a 21-point lead at halftime. Cudahy junior star Taylor Gradinjan had just 1 point in the first half.

But Cudahy went on its own 15-0 run in the third quarter and ultimately pulled within 5 points in an ugly third quarter, during which Pewaukee leading scorer Jordyn Swan sat with four fouls.

But Emily Wirth scored seven straight Pewaukee points in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points as PHS re-established its lead to 16 points in the final quarter. Cudahy fell to 11-4, and the Pirates took a healthy three-game lead in the Woodland Blue standings.

Eisenhower sits perched atop the Woodland Black standings and won't meet Pewaukee again in the regular season -- but could very well meet the Pirates in the playoffs. Friday's tip is at 7:30 p.m.