Autum Barthelman scores, and Sigourney clinches SICL East title

Autum Barthelman is more than strictly a speedster.

She is one of the best all-around athletes ever to go through Sigourney High School. And Tuesday, she made her mark on the basketball court.

Barthelman tied a single-game school record with 36 points in the Savages' 72-44 victory at Belle Plaine, a win that wrapped up the South Iowa Cedar League East Division championship. And her output sent her career tally to 1,226 points, which put her at the top of the school chart in that category.

'She got off to a quick start (Tuesday),' Sigourney Coach Zach Trammel said. 'I looked up at the scoreboard early in the second quarter, and she already had 18 points.'

Barthelman had 23 points by halftime, 31 at the end of the third quarter. Tremmel took her out when she reached 36, tying current teammate Brooke Waechter's record.

'I just thought it was fitting that we shut it down there,' he said.

Sigourney is 13-3 overall, 13-1 in the SICL, with the only league loss a one-pointer to 1A No. 3 North Mahaska. This is the Savages' second straight divisional crown.

The Barthelman sisters (Summer is a junior) led Sigourney to a 1A state track and field title last spring, and the Savages were the fourth-place 1A team at state softball in July.

'We have some excellent athletes going through here right now,' Tremmel said. 'We like to play a full-court game and wear down the opposition. We're relentless with our pressure; if teams can handle our press, we struggle a little.'

A 5-foot-8 senior guard, Autum Barthelman is averaging 20.6 points and 5.0 steals per game. Her offensive aggressiveness is reflected in the 137 free throws she has attempted through 16 games.

Waechter, also a senior, adds 11.1 points per contest.

Sigourney is at Tri-County on Friday.

ALL WRAPPED UP IN THE UIC

Both races in the Upper Iowa Conference have been decided.

Lansing Kee (15-1, 9-0) is the champion of the Small Division. The Hawks can wrap up a perfect UIC season if they win their last two league games, Tuesday against West Central and Feb. 2 at Turkey Valley.

Despite a loss to South Winneshiek on Tuesday, MFL MarMac (14-4, 8-2) owns the Large Division crown.

MILESTONES AND RECORDS

• Addison Rath of Mid-Prairie hit the 1,000-point mark for her career in the Golden Hawks' loss to Wilton on Tuesday.

• Hannah Neymeyer broke Lisbon's single-game record for rebounds last Friday, hauling in 26 in an overtime loss to Calamus-Wheatland.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com