BRODHEAD - The Cardinals are now 1-0 in 2009 thanks to a 51-39 win over Richland Center (0-6). Despite the victory, head coach Brian Kammerer knows his team still has a lot to work on.
"I thought we kind of came out flat and played that way nearly the entire game," Kammerer said.
The Hornets started the game a little quicker than the Cardinals. After converting a few turnovers and getting some shots to fall, Richland Center held an 11-6 lead just three minutes into the game.
"That was kind of a wake-up call for us. We started to play some defense and got the ball flowing inside on offense," Kammerer said.
Brodhead (3-4, 0-3 Rock Valley South) then went on a 9-0 run to take a 15-11 lead with time winding down in the period. At the end of the first quarter, the Cardinals held a 20-13 lead.
Point guard Jacob Cole (15 points) and center J.J. Panoske (14 points) led the Cardinals with six points a piece in the opening quarter. Cole hit a 3-pointer right before the buzzer that extended the streak.
In the second quarter, Cole and Panoske kept it going on offense. The two led Brodhead to a 15-9 second quarter and each sat in double digits by halftime. Panoske hit back to back jumpers in the period, with the second one a big 3-pointer in which he was fouled. The sophomore big man finished the rare 4-point play as Brodhead's lead hit 13 points for the first time all game.
"Every game I keep getting better," Panoske said. "I've been working on my offense a lot, like getting the ball in the post."
The 6-foot 9-inch center finished the game in double digits in rebounds and added six blocked shots on the defensive side of the floor, too.
"My timing has been a little off lately, but I'm starting to get that back," he said.
To start the second half, the Cardinals knew that they had to work extra hard and put the Hornets down for good.
"Coach tells us that the first five minutes in the second half wins the game. We want to get out and play good defense and try to get a good lead," Panoske said.
Brodhead did just that. Through the first five minutes of the third quarter, the Cardinals outscored Richland Center 7-2 to take a 16-point lead at 42-26.
The Hornets worked their way back, though, and closed the gap to single digits before the start of the fourth quarter.
"I have to give credit to Richland Center, they never gave up. And our defense just didn't get it done," Kammerer said.
Not even two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter, the Hornets pulled to within four points at 42-37. Over much of the period, scoring seemed to become a rarity for either team and yet the suspense was at its height.
With just 1:18 left in the game, and Brodhead leading 46-39, Richland Center's smallest player - Derrick Warner - was called for a foul on a rebound, sending Panoske to the free throw line for a bonus. The sophomore hit his first but bricked the second try.
Cardinals forward Nick Jacobson, a fellow sophomore, was there to pick up the rebound and bully his way to the bucket for the put back. Jacobson finished the game with 9 points.
Richland Center's first pass beyond half-court in the ensuing possession went into the out-stretched hands of Brodhead senior Ryan Miller (6 points). Miller took the rock coast to coast and finished with a rim-level lay up to give Brodhead all the points they would need with just over a minute to play.
"That sealed the deal. That's the way we know we can play. That is the kind of emotion and effort we need on every play," Kammerer said of the 17-second, 5-point stretch.
The Cardinals will now get back to work in the RVC as they face Big Foot (3-2, 1-2) on Tuesday, Jan. 6 and Beloit Turner (3-4, 1-2) on Jan. 9.
"I thought we kind of came out flat and played that way nearly the entire game," Kammerer said.
The Hornets started the game a little quicker than the Cardinals. After converting a few turnovers and getting some shots to fall, Richland Center held an 11-6 lead just three minutes into the game.
"That was kind of a wake-up call for us. We started to play some defense and got the ball flowing inside on offense," Kammerer said.
Brodhead (3-4, 0-3 Rock Valley South) then went on a 9-0 run to take a 15-11 lead with time winding down in the period. At the end of the first quarter, the Cardinals held a 20-13 lead.
Point guard Jacob Cole (15 points) and center J.J. Panoske (14 points) led the Cardinals with six points a piece in the opening quarter. Cole hit a 3-pointer right before the buzzer that extended the streak.
In the second quarter, Cole and Panoske kept it going on offense. The two led Brodhead to a 15-9 second quarter and each sat in double digits by halftime. Panoske hit back to back jumpers in the period, with the second one a big 3-pointer in which he was fouled. The sophomore big man finished the rare 4-point play as Brodhead's lead hit 13 points for the first time all game.
"Every game I keep getting better," Panoske said. "I've been working on my offense a lot, like getting the ball in the post."
The 6-foot 9-inch center finished the game in double digits in rebounds and added six blocked shots on the defensive side of the floor, too.
"My timing has been a little off lately, but I'm starting to get that back," he said.
To start the second half, the Cardinals knew that they had to work extra hard and put the Hornets down for good.
"Coach tells us that the first five minutes in the second half wins the game. We want to get out and play good defense and try to get a good lead," Panoske said.
Brodhead did just that. Through the first five minutes of the third quarter, the Cardinals outscored Richland Center 7-2 to take a 16-point lead at 42-26.
The Hornets worked their way back, though, and closed the gap to single digits before the start of the fourth quarter.
"I have to give credit to Richland Center, they never gave up. And our defense just didn't get it done," Kammerer said.
Not even two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter, the Hornets pulled to within four points at 42-37. Over much of the period, scoring seemed to become a rarity for either team and yet the suspense was at its height.
With just 1:18 left in the game, and Brodhead leading 46-39, Richland Center's smallest player - Derrick Warner - was called for a foul on a rebound, sending Panoske to the free throw line for a bonus. The sophomore hit his first but bricked the second try.
Cardinals forward Nick Jacobson, a fellow sophomore, was there to pick up the rebound and bully his way to the bucket for the put back. Jacobson finished the game with 9 points.
Richland Center's first pass beyond half-court in the ensuing possession went into the out-stretched hands of Brodhead senior Ryan Miller (6 points). Miller took the rock coast to coast and finished with a rim-level lay up to give Brodhead all the points they would need with just over a minute to play.
"That sealed the deal. That's the way we know we can play. That is the kind of emotion and effort we need on every play," Kammerer said of the 17-second, 5-point stretch.
The Cardinals will now get back to work in the RVC as they face Big Foot (3-2, 1-2) on Tuesday, Jan. 6 and Beloit Turner (3-4, 1-2) on Jan. 9.
