SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Heath Butler erupted scoring a game-high 40 points to lead the Warriors to a 55-39 win over Monticello Tuesday.
With the big scoring performance, Butler eclipsed the 1,000-career-point scoring milestone.
"He has had a great career," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said of Butler. "He's a special player. It's been great coaching him on the varsity this year and we are not done. He did a good job of letting the game come to him in the second half."
Butler drilled three of the Warriors' four 3-pointers. Black Hawk (7-5, 5-1 Six Rivers East) used a 15-5 run in the second quarter to open up a 10-point lead at the half.
"We got some easy looks out of our press," Anderson said. "We were able to get some quick points in transition."
Monticello senior Ben May scored a team-high 27 points. With the loss, Monticello drops to 1-11, 0-6 Six Rivers East.
Albany 60, Juda 51
ALBANY - For three quarters, the Juda boys basketball team looked primed to upend Albany.
Juda led Albany 37-34 to start the fourth quarter. The Comets (5-9, 4-2 Six Rivers East) outscored the Panthers 26-14 in the fourth quarter to pull out a comeback win. Albany coach Derik Doescher was excited to see his team attack the basket as they rallied to win in the fourth quarter.
"I thought we were more aggressive on offense," Doescher said. "We were not just settling for jump shots. Juda did a good job of keeping us out of the lane until the fourth quarter. We had to get around the rim and shoot more free throws."
Albany made 20 of 25 from the free-throw line. Albany junior Tyler Dahl scored a game-high 20 points and sophomore teammate Brock Gilkes added 18 points. Albany senior Mitchell Trow added 11 points. Gilkes scored 10 of his points in the first quarter as the Panthers jumped out to an 18-16 lead.
"He (Gilkes) gave us a spark on offense in the first quarter," Doescher said.
Juda sophomore Matt Schmitt scored a team-high 16 points and senior teammate Cory Segner added 15 points. Teammate Skylar Stuckey added 13 points.
Albany plays at Black Hawk Friday.
"They have a great player in (Heath) Butler," Doescher said. "Not too many teams go to South Wayne and come out with a win. It will be a hard-fought game."
Darlington 57, Fennimore 31
DARLINGTON - Will Schwartz came off the bench to score a game-high 19 points to propel Darlington to a 57-31 win over Fennimore.
Schwartz knocked down three of the Redbirds' four 3-pointers. With the win, Darlington improves to 12-1, 5-1 SWAL.
Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said the second string was key to beating Fennimore.
"We have a lot of depth," Hopkins said. "Our starting five is not necessarily our best five basketball players."
The Redbirds jumped out to a 13-7 first quarter lead and led by 16 points at the half. Darlington seniors Cole McDonald and Ben Muhlstein each added eight points.
The Redbirds made 9 of 12 free throws, which is the same as the Eagles attempted (9).
Hopkins said the Redbirds have made more free throws than the opposing team has attempted in most games this season.
"It usually means we are getting post touches and penetrating," he said.
Barneveld 64, Argyle 35
ARGYLE - Barneveld's Matthew Myers scored a game-high 21 points to help the Eagles roll to a 64-35 win over Argyle.
Myers had the hot hand draining five 3-pointers. Teammate Brycen Sorensen added 17 points.
Barneveld (5-7, 3-3 Six Rivers East) raced out to an 18-10 lead and led by 11 points at the half. The Eagles sealed the victory by outscoring the Orioles 22-6 in the fourth quarter.
Argyle junior Riley Ostby scored a team-high 15 points and junior Kyle Emberson chipped in 11 points. With the loss, Argyle drops to 2-8, 1-5.
Jefferson 55, Brodhead 43
JEFFERSON - Jack Cincotta scored a game-high 27 points to power Jefferson to a 55-43 win over Brodhead.
Brodhead jumped out to a five-point lead in the first quarter. Jefferson went on a 17-4 run in the second quarter to take a 24-16 lead at the half.
Jefferson sealed the game outscoring the Cardinals 18-13 in the third quarter. Brodhead junior Ned Slocum scored a team-high 18 points and senior teammate Griffin Day added 14 points.
With the loss, Brodhead drops to 4-9, 2-6 Rock Valley South.
With the big scoring performance, Butler eclipsed the 1,000-career-point scoring milestone.
"He has had a great career," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said of Butler. "He's a special player. It's been great coaching him on the varsity this year and we are not done. He did a good job of letting the game come to him in the second half."
Butler drilled three of the Warriors' four 3-pointers. Black Hawk (7-5, 5-1 Six Rivers East) used a 15-5 run in the second quarter to open up a 10-point lead at the half.
"We got some easy looks out of our press," Anderson said. "We were able to get some quick points in transition."
Monticello senior Ben May scored a team-high 27 points. With the loss, Monticello drops to 1-11, 0-6 Six Rivers East.
Albany 60, Juda 51
ALBANY - For three quarters, the Juda boys basketball team looked primed to upend Albany.
Juda led Albany 37-34 to start the fourth quarter. The Comets (5-9, 4-2 Six Rivers East) outscored the Panthers 26-14 in the fourth quarter to pull out a comeback win. Albany coach Derik Doescher was excited to see his team attack the basket as they rallied to win in the fourth quarter.
"I thought we were more aggressive on offense," Doescher said. "We were not just settling for jump shots. Juda did a good job of keeping us out of the lane until the fourth quarter. We had to get around the rim and shoot more free throws."
Albany made 20 of 25 from the free-throw line. Albany junior Tyler Dahl scored a game-high 20 points and sophomore teammate Brock Gilkes added 18 points. Albany senior Mitchell Trow added 11 points. Gilkes scored 10 of his points in the first quarter as the Panthers jumped out to an 18-16 lead.
"He (Gilkes) gave us a spark on offense in the first quarter," Doescher said.
Juda sophomore Matt Schmitt scored a team-high 16 points and senior teammate Cory Segner added 15 points. Teammate Skylar Stuckey added 13 points.
Albany plays at Black Hawk Friday.
"They have a great player in (Heath) Butler," Doescher said. "Not too many teams go to South Wayne and come out with a win. It will be a hard-fought game."
Darlington 57, Fennimore 31
DARLINGTON - Will Schwartz came off the bench to score a game-high 19 points to propel Darlington to a 57-31 win over Fennimore.
Schwartz knocked down three of the Redbirds' four 3-pointers. With the win, Darlington improves to 12-1, 5-1 SWAL.
Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said the second string was key to beating Fennimore.
"We have a lot of depth," Hopkins said. "Our starting five is not necessarily our best five basketball players."
The Redbirds jumped out to a 13-7 first quarter lead and led by 16 points at the half. Darlington seniors Cole McDonald and Ben Muhlstein each added eight points.
The Redbirds made 9 of 12 free throws, which is the same as the Eagles attempted (9).
Hopkins said the Redbirds have made more free throws than the opposing team has attempted in most games this season.
"It usually means we are getting post touches and penetrating," he said.
Barneveld 64, Argyle 35
ARGYLE - Barneveld's Matthew Myers scored a game-high 21 points to help the Eagles roll to a 64-35 win over Argyle.
Myers had the hot hand draining five 3-pointers. Teammate Brycen Sorensen added 17 points.
Barneveld (5-7, 3-3 Six Rivers East) raced out to an 18-10 lead and led by 11 points at the half. The Eagles sealed the victory by outscoring the Orioles 22-6 in the fourth quarter.
Argyle junior Riley Ostby scored a team-high 15 points and junior Kyle Emberson chipped in 11 points. With the loss, Argyle drops to 2-8, 1-5.
Jefferson 55, Brodhead 43
JEFFERSON - Jack Cincotta scored a game-high 27 points to power Jefferson to a 55-43 win over Brodhead.
Brodhead jumped out to a five-point lead in the first quarter. Jefferson went on a 17-4 run in the second quarter to take a 24-16 lead at the half.
Jefferson sealed the game outscoring the Cardinals 18-13 in the third quarter. Brodhead junior Ned Slocum scored a team-high 18 points and senior teammate Griffin Day added 14 points.
With the loss, Brodhead drops to 4-9, 2-6 Rock Valley South.
