By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

AUBURNDALE — The Auburndale girls basketball team stormed back from a double-digit deficit to force overtime and knocked off Neillsville in two OTs 41-37 on Tuesday night at Auburndale High School.

The Apaches (4-0) were down 19-8 after the first quarter and cut Neillsville’s lead to 31-26 after three quarters. Auburndale outscored Neillsville (1-2) 7-2 in the fourth quarter, and after each team scored two points in the first overtime, the Apaches pulled away in the second extra period with a 6-2 run.

Taylor Gotz led Auburndale with 13 points and six rebounds, and Paiton Richardson added seven points and seven rebounds.

The Apaches won despite making just four of 17 free throws.

Auburndale opens its Marawood Conference South Division schedule Friday at home against Wausau Newman Catholic.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Apaches 41, Warriors 37 (2 OT)

Neillsville 19 4 8 2 2 2 – 37

Auburndale 8 12 6 15 2 6 – 41

NEILLSVILLE (37): Statistics not provided. Record: 1-2.

AUBURNDALE (41): Allison Linzmeier 4-7 0-0 8, Cheyenne Karl 2-7 0-1 5, Jenna Peplinski 0-2 0-0 0, Sylviann Momont 1-2 0-4 2, Paiton Richardson 3-9 1-3 7, Shannon Yahnke 3-8 3-5 6, Taylor Gotz 5-11 0-4 13. FG: 18-45. FT: 4-17. 3-pointers: 1-4 (Karl 1-3, Linzmeier 0-1). Rebounds: 27 (Richardson 7). Assists: 10 (Richardson 3, Gotz 3). Record: 4-0.