SOUTH WAYNE - After a slow start, the Black Hawk boys basketball team picked up the pace and knocked off Argyle, 55-34.
The game was tied at 7 after the first quarter, before the Warriors started pushing the tempo.
"In the first quarter, we came out sluggish. Shots weren't falling and we turned the ball over too many times," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick. "In the second quarter, we made some adjustments, pushed the pace a little bit, and were able to build a first half lead."
Christopher Severson led the Orioles with 12 points. Seth Butler was the Warriors' leading scorer with 16 points. Manlick was very pleased with Butler's play.
"He played great defensively on (Severson). On offense he was able to get to the rack even though Argyle had a 6'6" guy (Pablo Vives). He's quick at the right time."
Argyle (5-8, 2-3) hosts Belmont on Monday. Black Hawk (7-1, 5-1) plays again tonight and Monday. Manlick said the key for his team during this stretch is staying healthy.
"Our biggest thing is staying healthy. If we can stay healthy, play consistently, and stick to our offensive and defensive schemes, than hopefully we can get two more wins against Durand and Warren."
Monticello 46, Juda 33
MONTICELLO - Despite playing without senior leading scorer Bryce Klitzke, the Monticello boys basketball team continued their hot streak with a 46-33 win over Juda Friday night.
Monticello (12-1, 4-1 Six Rivers East), ranked fifth in Division 5, led just 21-20 at the half. The Ponies outscored the Panthers 25-13 in the second half.
Juda senior Cole Bauman scored a team-high 18 points and hit four 3-pointers to lead the Panthers. Thirteen of his points came in the first half.
"Juda came out shooting really well," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "They were hot. We were not where we should have been defensively."
Monticello junior Lucas Marty scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Ponies. Senior Jesse Halvorsen added 10 points and sophomore Ben May chipped in 9.
"I think our defensive intensity picked up," Olson said of the second half. "We adjusted some of our pressures a little bit. We were able to convert more at the offensive end and that put the pressure on them too."
Olson liked the way Marty has stepped up with Klitzke sidelined.
"He has always been one of the guys we look to on the offensive end," Olson said of Marty. "He was able to find some openings and take advantage of it. He is doing what he is supposed to do."
Juda seniors Kade Allen and Matt Trotter scored eight and seven points respectively.
Barneveld 50, Pecatonica 48
BLANCHARDVILLE - The Pecatonica boys basketball team nearly pulled off a huge upset Friday night, taking perennial Six Rivers East contender Barneveld to overtime before coming up just short, losing 50-48.
Early on it looked like the game would be all Barneveld. The Eagles held a 23-10 lead after the first quarter, but Pecatonica slowly whittled away at the deficit. Pec outscored the Eagles by four in both the second and third quarters, and by five in the fourth to force OT. Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said the key to the Pecatonica turnaround was a defensive switch.
"We switched to a zone. I think it really slowed them up," he said.
Barneveld outscored the Vikings 4-2 in the extra period to pull out the win.
"To be honest, there weren't many possessions in OT," said Fink. "We scored first, but they hit a jumper with four seconds left. We called a timeout but couldn't get the shot to fall. They were a little more patient."
Sawyer Clerkin led Pecatonica with 20 points.
"He got a couple baskets early by getting some offensive boards," said Fink.
Pecatonica fell to 3-8 with the loss and are still searching for their first win in the Six Rivers East. The Vikings will return to action on Monday with a non-conference game at Fennimore.
Albany 56, Belmont 51
BELMONT - Albany had some balanced scoring and won its fourth straight game, knocking off Belmont 56-51.
Albany junior Isaiah Shell scored a game-high 25 points. Freshman Tyler Dahl scored 11 points, and junior Mitchell Kauk added 10. Albany coach Derik Doescher likes the way the Comets have turned the season around during the winning streak.
"I think the biggest thing is we got more up-tempo and shot the ball a lot better," Doescher said. "We were sitting at 1-7, and we knew we were better than that. It's hard to believe until you start winning. We are much more confident now, and we are winning games."
Albany (5-7, 1-4 Six Rivers East) jumped out to a 13-6 first quarter lead and led by 12 points at the half after erupting for 21 points in the second quarter.
Doescher said the Comets were still able to find a way to win, even after they gave up a 12-point lead. Doescher liked the balanced scoring the Comets had against the Braves.
"It's always nice to have three players in double figures," he said.
Marshall 100, New Glarus 60
MARSHALL - Marshall's high-powered offensive attack proved too much to handle for the New Glarus boys basketball team, as the Glarner Knights fell to the Cardinals, 100-60.
Marshall jumped on the Knights from the start, leading 29-8 after the first quarter and 53-19 at halftime.
New Glarus did find more success in the second half, though, as they were only outscored 47-41 in the final two quarters.
"I thought they came out really aggressive," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "They shot the ball extremely well. We had a hard time stopping them in the post. It was a frustrating first half. The second half was much better. I was proud of the way they kept fighting."
TJ Duerst led the Glarner Knights with 16 points. Reigning Capitol South player of the year Cam Ward led Marshall with 33 points. Brandon Stensaas also had a big game for the Cardinals, scoring 24 points.
"Stensaas is just a big kid. We're a little over-matched against them for size," Sysko said. "Cam Ward is the best player we've seen. He's improved even from last year. He came out in the third and hit five 3s in a row. He's a tough kid to defend. Hopefully he won't shoot that well when they come down to New Glarus (on Feb. 5)."
New Glarus (4-9, 2-1) will look to rebound next Thursday against Wisconsin Heights.
The game was tied at 7 after the first quarter, before the Warriors started pushing the tempo.
"In the first quarter, we came out sluggish. Shots weren't falling and we turned the ball over too many times," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick. "In the second quarter, we made some adjustments, pushed the pace a little bit, and were able to build a first half lead."
Christopher Severson led the Orioles with 12 points. Seth Butler was the Warriors' leading scorer with 16 points. Manlick was very pleased with Butler's play.
"He played great defensively on (Severson). On offense he was able to get to the rack even though Argyle had a 6'6" guy (Pablo Vives). He's quick at the right time."
Argyle (5-8, 2-3) hosts Belmont on Monday. Black Hawk (7-1, 5-1) plays again tonight and Monday. Manlick said the key for his team during this stretch is staying healthy.
"Our biggest thing is staying healthy. If we can stay healthy, play consistently, and stick to our offensive and defensive schemes, than hopefully we can get two more wins against Durand and Warren."
Monticello 46, Juda 33
MONTICELLO - Despite playing without senior leading scorer Bryce Klitzke, the Monticello boys basketball team continued their hot streak with a 46-33 win over Juda Friday night.
Monticello (12-1, 4-1 Six Rivers East), ranked fifth in Division 5, led just 21-20 at the half. The Ponies outscored the Panthers 25-13 in the second half.
Juda senior Cole Bauman scored a team-high 18 points and hit four 3-pointers to lead the Panthers. Thirteen of his points came in the first half.
"Juda came out shooting really well," Monticello coach Mark Olson said. "They were hot. We were not where we should have been defensively."
Monticello junior Lucas Marty scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Ponies. Senior Jesse Halvorsen added 10 points and sophomore Ben May chipped in 9.
"I think our defensive intensity picked up," Olson said of the second half. "We adjusted some of our pressures a little bit. We were able to convert more at the offensive end and that put the pressure on them too."
Olson liked the way Marty has stepped up with Klitzke sidelined.
"He has always been one of the guys we look to on the offensive end," Olson said of Marty. "He was able to find some openings and take advantage of it. He is doing what he is supposed to do."
Juda seniors Kade Allen and Matt Trotter scored eight and seven points respectively.
Barneveld 50, Pecatonica 48
BLANCHARDVILLE - The Pecatonica boys basketball team nearly pulled off a huge upset Friday night, taking perennial Six Rivers East contender Barneveld to overtime before coming up just short, losing 50-48.
Early on it looked like the game would be all Barneveld. The Eagles held a 23-10 lead after the first quarter, but Pecatonica slowly whittled away at the deficit. Pec outscored the Eagles by four in both the second and third quarters, and by five in the fourth to force OT. Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said the key to the Pecatonica turnaround was a defensive switch.
"We switched to a zone. I think it really slowed them up," he said.
Barneveld outscored the Vikings 4-2 in the extra period to pull out the win.
"To be honest, there weren't many possessions in OT," said Fink. "We scored first, but they hit a jumper with four seconds left. We called a timeout but couldn't get the shot to fall. They were a little more patient."
Sawyer Clerkin led Pecatonica with 20 points.
"He got a couple baskets early by getting some offensive boards," said Fink.
Pecatonica fell to 3-8 with the loss and are still searching for their first win in the Six Rivers East. The Vikings will return to action on Monday with a non-conference game at Fennimore.
Albany 56, Belmont 51
BELMONT - Albany had some balanced scoring and won its fourth straight game, knocking off Belmont 56-51.
Albany junior Isaiah Shell scored a game-high 25 points. Freshman Tyler Dahl scored 11 points, and junior Mitchell Kauk added 10. Albany coach Derik Doescher likes the way the Comets have turned the season around during the winning streak.
"I think the biggest thing is we got more up-tempo and shot the ball a lot better," Doescher said. "We were sitting at 1-7, and we knew we were better than that. It's hard to believe until you start winning. We are much more confident now, and we are winning games."
Albany (5-7, 1-4 Six Rivers East) jumped out to a 13-6 first quarter lead and led by 12 points at the half after erupting for 21 points in the second quarter.
Doescher said the Comets were still able to find a way to win, even after they gave up a 12-point lead. Doescher liked the balanced scoring the Comets had against the Braves.
"It's always nice to have three players in double figures," he said.
Marshall 100, New Glarus 60
MARSHALL - Marshall's high-powered offensive attack proved too much to handle for the New Glarus boys basketball team, as the Glarner Knights fell to the Cardinals, 100-60.
Marshall jumped on the Knights from the start, leading 29-8 after the first quarter and 53-19 at halftime.
New Glarus did find more success in the second half, though, as they were only outscored 47-41 in the final two quarters.
"I thought they came out really aggressive," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "They shot the ball extremely well. We had a hard time stopping them in the post. It was a frustrating first half. The second half was much better. I was proud of the way they kept fighting."
TJ Duerst led the Glarner Knights with 16 points. Reigning Capitol South player of the year Cam Ward led Marshall with 33 points. Brandon Stensaas also had a big game for the Cardinals, scoring 24 points.
"Stensaas is just a big kid. We're a little over-matched against them for size," Sysko said. "Cam Ward is the best player we've seen. He's improved even from last year. He came out in the third and hit five 3s in a row. He's a tough kid to defend. Hopefully he won't shoot that well when they come down to New Glarus (on Feb. 5)."
New Glarus (4-9, 2-1) will look to rebound next Thursday against Wisconsin Heights.
