SOUTH WAYNE - The Black Hawk boys basketball team's balanced scoring attack propelled the Warriors to a 54-45 win over Warren.
After scoring just four points in the first quarter, the Warriors responded by putting up 21 in the second.
"We came out kinda slow, kinda sluggish," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick said, pointing out that his boys were playing their third game in four days. He said the big second quarter helped set the tone for quarters three and four.
"It was a good, solid team performance," he said. "It allowed us to propel ourselves in the second half."
Black Hawk outscored the Blue Devils 12-9 in the third quarter and 17-15 in the fourth. Leading the way offensively for the Warriors was sophomore Heath Butler, who had 15 points. Junior Tyler Peterson added 12 points, and junior Seth Butler chipped in 11.
The Warriors (8-1, 5-1 Six Rivers East) have now won five games in a row, but Manlick says the team can still get better.
"We're playing some nice basketball," he said. "So far we're playing well, but I think we can get better as a team in general. There are some things we do need to work out.
"Good things are happening and hopefully we can keep getting better and progress through the year."
Argyle 45, Belmont 37
ARGYLE - The Argyle boys basketball team bounced back from a slow start and used a big second quarter to take down Belmont.
Argyle head coach Michael Cassidy admitted that the Orioles were slow out of the gate, but he was confident they could recover and operate their offense effectively.
"We felt like we could run our offense," he said. "We felt like we could get some good looks."
The Orioles got a number of good looks in the second quarter, thanks in large part to not committing a single turnover in the frame. In doing so, they outscored the Braves 24-12 in the quarter.
"You just want an opportunity," Cassidy said. "It seemed like we scored on most of them."
The final two quarters went Belmont's way, but the Orioles held on for the win. In retrospect, Cassidy said the big second quarter made a clear case for consistent limiting of turnovers.
"It's gotta be every quarter, for four quarters," he said.
Offensively, the Orioles were led by freshman Riley Ostby, who scored 15 points. Junior Christopher Severson, who has been battling illness, added 11 points.
Cassidy said Severson "hit two huge 3s" in the second quarter and showed true grit Monday night by playing even when he wasn't 100 percent.
"He really gutted it out tonight, and that was good to see," Cassidy said. "He hasn't been feeling well, and he wasn't going to use that as an excuse."
Severson and the rest of the Orioles will now have some time to rest, as their next game won't come until Saturday night at Monticello.
Parkview 69, Juda 31
JUDA - With a handful players out of action, several of Juda's JV players hit the court against Parkview, and the Panthers fell to the Vikings, 69-31.
Parkview built an early lead, besting Juda 24-5 in the first quarter. Juda head coach Mike Armitage said the offense and defense both struggled to get going early on.
"You gotta defend, and if you're not defending you gotta put the ball in the hole," Armitage said.
Despite the lopsided opening quarter, Juda bounced back by outscoring the Vikings 18-13 in the second. Senior Matt Trotter led the Panthers with 12 points for the game, and he scored 10 of his 12 in the second. Fellow senior Kade Allen added seven points.
Armitage said he was pleased with how his team recovered in the second. From then on, though, it was all Parkview as the Vikings outscored Juda 32-8 in quarters three and four.
A combination of turnovers and a plethora of JV players thrust into varsity roles put the team in a tough spot, but Armitage said his team showed character by gutting out the final 16 minutes.
"We battled ... possession after possession, trying to do some things right," he said.
The Panthers were without senior Cole Bauman who was sick, as well as another player due to suspension.
Their collective absence left a void but created opportunities for young JV players to get varsity playing time. Armitage said the younger players have been fighting to catch up to the speed of the game, but he said "in the long run, you hope (the experience) pays off."
Those players absent from Monday's game are expected to return on Thursday when the Panthers travel to take on Black Hawk who narrowly defeated Juda 48-47 on Dec. 4.
Cambridge 61, Albany 59
CAMBRIDGE - Albany junior Isaiah Shell scored a game-high 37 points, but the Comets lost a heartbreaker to Cambridge 61-59.
Shell was fouled with two seconds left and Albany down 61-59. He missed the front end of the one-and-one.
"We had to tell him to miss the next one because there were only two seconds left," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We wanted him to miss it so we could get a tip in or putback. He hit the back of the rim, but we couldn't get the rebound."
The Blue Jays outscored the Comets 23-14 in the second quarter and led by 14 points at the half. Cambridge's Erick Engelstad scored 20 points and J.T. Parish added 18 points.
"We just couldn't stop their best two players," Doescher said.
Albany (5-8, 1-4 Six Rivers East) shot 6 of 12 from the free throw line.
"Our Achilles heel has been free throw shooting," Doescher said. "We learned in the end every possession is valuable in a close game."
With the loss, ALbany's four game winning streak was snapped. Albany will look to get back on track when they host conference rival Barneveld on Thursday. The Comets lost 62-52 to the Eagles earlier this season.
After scoring just four points in the first quarter, the Warriors responded by putting up 21 in the second.
"We came out kinda slow, kinda sluggish," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick said, pointing out that his boys were playing their third game in four days. He said the big second quarter helped set the tone for quarters three and four.
"It was a good, solid team performance," he said. "It allowed us to propel ourselves in the second half."
Black Hawk outscored the Blue Devils 12-9 in the third quarter and 17-15 in the fourth. Leading the way offensively for the Warriors was sophomore Heath Butler, who had 15 points. Junior Tyler Peterson added 12 points, and junior Seth Butler chipped in 11.
The Warriors (8-1, 5-1 Six Rivers East) have now won five games in a row, but Manlick says the team can still get better.
"We're playing some nice basketball," he said. "So far we're playing well, but I think we can get better as a team in general. There are some things we do need to work out.
"Good things are happening and hopefully we can keep getting better and progress through the year."
Argyle 45, Belmont 37
ARGYLE - The Argyle boys basketball team bounced back from a slow start and used a big second quarter to take down Belmont.
Argyle head coach Michael Cassidy admitted that the Orioles were slow out of the gate, but he was confident they could recover and operate their offense effectively.
"We felt like we could run our offense," he said. "We felt like we could get some good looks."
The Orioles got a number of good looks in the second quarter, thanks in large part to not committing a single turnover in the frame. In doing so, they outscored the Braves 24-12 in the quarter.
"You just want an opportunity," Cassidy said. "It seemed like we scored on most of them."
The final two quarters went Belmont's way, but the Orioles held on for the win. In retrospect, Cassidy said the big second quarter made a clear case for consistent limiting of turnovers.
"It's gotta be every quarter, for four quarters," he said.
Offensively, the Orioles were led by freshman Riley Ostby, who scored 15 points. Junior Christopher Severson, who has been battling illness, added 11 points.
Cassidy said Severson "hit two huge 3s" in the second quarter and showed true grit Monday night by playing even when he wasn't 100 percent.
"He really gutted it out tonight, and that was good to see," Cassidy said. "He hasn't been feeling well, and he wasn't going to use that as an excuse."
Severson and the rest of the Orioles will now have some time to rest, as their next game won't come until Saturday night at Monticello.
Parkview 69, Juda 31
JUDA - With a handful players out of action, several of Juda's JV players hit the court against Parkview, and the Panthers fell to the Vikings, 69-31.
Parkview built an early lead, besting Juda 24-5 in the first quarter. Juda head coach Mike Armitage said the offense and defense both struggled to get going early on.
"You gotta defend, and if you're not defending you gotta put the ball in the hole," Armitage said.
Despite the lopsided opening quarter, Juda bounced back by outscoring the Vikings 18-13 in the second. Senior Matt Trotter led the Panthers with 12 points for the game, and he scored 10 of his 12 in the second. Fellow senior Kade Allen added seven points.
Armitage said he was pleased with how his team recovered in the second. From then on, though, it was all Parkview as the Vikings outscored Juda 32-8 in quarters three and four.
A combination of turnovers and a plethora of JV players thrust into varsity roles put the team in a tough spot, but Armitage said his team showed character by gutting out the final 16 minutes.
"We battled ... possession after possession, trying to do some things right," he said.
The Panthers were without senior Cole Bauman who was sick, as well as another player due to suspension.
Their collective absence left a void but created opportunities for young JV players to get varsity playing time. Armitage said the younger players have been fighting to catch up to the speed of the game, but he said "in the long run, you hope (the experience) pays off."
Those players absent from Monday's game are expected to return on Thursday when the Panthers travel to take on Black Hawk who narrowly defeated Juda 48-47 on Dec. 4.
Cambridge 61, Albany 59
CAMBRIDGE - Albany junior Isaiah Shell scored a game-high 37 points, but the Comets lost a heartbreaker to Cambridge 61-59.
Shell was fouled with two seconds left and Albany down 61-59. He missed the front end of the one-and-one.
"We had to tell him to miss the next one because there were only two seconds left," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We wanted him to miss it so we could get a tip in or putback. He hit the back of the rim, but we couldn't get the rebound."
The Blue Jays outscored the Comets 23-14 in the second quarter and led by 14 points at the half. Cambridge's Erick Engelstad scored 20 points and J.T. Parish added 18 points.
"We just couldn't stop their best two players," Doescher said.
Albany (5-8, 1-4 Six Rivers East) shot 6 of 12 from the free throw line.
"Our Achilles heel has been free throw shooting," Doescher said. "We learned in the end every possession is valuable in a close game."
With the loss, ALbany's four game winning streak was snapped. Albany will look to get back on track when they host conference rival Barneveld on Thursday. The Comets lost 62-52 to the Eagles earlier this season.
