ALBANY - The Albany boys basketball team kept their conference championship hopes alive with a 62-46 win over Monticello Friday, Feb. 7.
With the win, Albany (12-6, 6-2 Six Rivers East) avenges a loss to the Ponies from last week. The conference remains jumbled at the top with Albany holding a one-half game lead on Black Hawk and Barneveld and a one game lead on Monticello (9-7, 5-3).
"There was a good crowd here tonight; we're tied for first in conference, so it was a lot like a tournament atmosphere," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "The kids came ready to play. (We) made our shots early in the game, and that 15-6 lead (in the first quarter) really built our confidence. To get out on top early was a big boost for us."
The Comets jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter and led by 10 points at the half. The Comets also outscored the Ponies 31-25 in the second half.
Albany senior Isaiah Shell scored a team-high 17 points and senior Mitchell Kauk had 16 points.
"We had eight different guys score tonight so I think that was huge, just to have different guys put the basketball in the hole," Doescher said. "We played our best team defense collectively. It was just a good team win, all around."
Monticello junior Ben May scored a game-high 22 points and senior Lucas Marty added nine points.
Black Hawk 59, Pecatonica 49
SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk kept pace in the Six Rivers East Conference by using a 1-3-1 press to knock off Pecatonica 59-49.
"Our goal to win the conference crown is still there," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick said. "We have to take care of what we can control. We will need some help."
The Warriors led by four points at the half, 31-27. The Warriors took control of the game outscoring the Vikings 16-5 in the third quarter. With the win, Black Hawk 13-5, 6-3 Six Rivers East moves within one-half game of Albany and avenged an earlier season loss to the Vikings.
Black Hawk senior Seth Butler scored a game-high 23 points and younger brother Heath Butler scored 15 points. Black Hawk senior Tyler Peterson added nine points on three 3-pointers.
"The 1-3-1 press proved to be beneficial for us and caused some turnovers," Manlick said. "I thought our kids did a much better job of executing our offense. They worked hard."
Pecatonica freshman Kole Kent scored a team-high 15 points and junior Drew Schliem scored 13 points. Pecatonica freshman A.J. Hendrickson was limited to nine points. With the loss, Pecatonica drops to 8-10, 5-4.
Marshall 76, New Glarus 41
NEW GLARUS - Capitol South Conference leader Marshall stayed in the driver's seat for a title rolling to a 76-41 win over New Glarus Friday.
Marshall (15-3, 8-0 Capitol South) outscored the Glarner Knights 19-8 in the first quarter and raced out to a 16 point lead at the half. Marshall senior Cam Ward scored a game-high 20 points.
"We had some opportunities early to finish some shots," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "We didn't shoot it particularly well in the first half. You have to play your best game, especially defensively. We played fairly well in the first half, but in the second it got away from us. But Marshall is a good team and they showed that tonight."
The Cardinals put the game away outscoring the Knights 24-9 in the third quarter. New Glarus sophomore Gavin Binger scored a team-high 13 points to lead the Knights.
"We've been practicing really well coming back into our last couple of games, it just hasn't carried over," Sysko said. "We're just going to keep plugging away in practice and keep working hard. Their balance was really good. They had another kid with 15 points, and (another with) 14 points. They just really stepped up and hit the shots when they needed them. They had a really good team effort."
Darlington 56, Southwestern 37
DARLINGTON - The Redbirds turned in a dominating defensive performance en route to a 56-37 win over Southwestern.
Darlington (10-6, 7-2 SWAL) led just 27-25 at the half. However, the Redbirds outscored the Wildcats 29-12 in the second half.
"We tightened up our defense; they had only six points in both the third and fourth quarters, each," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to take a two-point lead into halftime, and we carried that momentum into the half. The team came out with a little better defense.
"We got some easy baskets off our defense, switching defenses from a man to a zone, using different types of zone. I think we're starting to put it together at the right time. We had kind of struggled offensively, but we've been a lot more consistent lately, in the last three games especially."
Darlington junior Cole McDonald scored a game-high 20 points. Senior Tanner Wiegel scored 11 points and junior Ben Muhlstein added 10 points.
The Redbirds are now tied with Cuba City for second in the SWAL behind Mineral Point.
"Based on how we've struggled early in the season, now we're putting it together at the right time," Hopkins said.
Argyle 49, Juda 27
ARGYLE - Sophomore Riley Ostby scored a game-high 16 points to propel the Orioles to a 49-27 win over Juda.
Argyle (5-10, 2-6 Six Rivers East) put the game away with a 21-4 run in the third quarter. Argyle senior Alec Treuthardt scored 11 points and junior Colton Ploessl added eight points.
Juda junior Cory Segner scored a team-high 11 points and freshman Matt Schmitt chipped in eight points. With the loss, Juda drops to 1-16, 0-9.
With the win, Albany (12-6, 6-2 Six Rivers East) avenges a loss to the Ponies from last week. The conference remains jumbled at the top with Albany holding a one-half game lead on Black Hawk and Barneveld and a one game lead on Monticello (9-7, 5-3).
"There was a good crowd here tonight; we're tied for first in conference, so it was a lot like a tournament atmosphere," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "The kids came ready to play. (We) made our shots early in the game, and that 15-6 lead (in the first quarter) really built our confidence. To get out on top early was a big boost for us."
The Comets jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter and led by 10 points at the half. The Comets also outscored the Ponies 31-25 in the second half.
Albany senior Isaiah Shell scored a team-high 17 points and senior Mitchell Kauk had 16 points.
"We had eight different guys score tonight so I think that was huge, just to have different guys put the basketball in the hole," Doescher said. "We played our best team defense collectively. It was just a good team win, all around."
Monticello junior Ben May scored a game-high 22 points and senior Lucas Marty added nine points.
Black Hawk 59, Pecatonica 49
SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk kept pace in the Six Rivers East Conference by using a 1-3-1 press to knock off Pecatonica 59-49.
"Our goal to win the conference crown is still there," Black Hawk coach Corey Manlick said. "We have to take care of what we can control. We will need some help."
The Warriors led by four points at the half, 31-27. The Warriors took control of the game outscoring the Vikings 16-5 in the third quarter. With the win, Black Hawk 13-5, 6-3 Six Rivers East moves within one-half game of Albany and avenged an earlier season loss to the Vikings.
Black Hawk senior Seth Butler scored a game-high 23 points and younger brother Heath Butler scored 15 points. Black Hawk senior Tyler Peterson added nine points on three 3-pointers.
"The 1-3-1 press proved to be beneficial for us and caused some turnovers," Manlick said. "I thought our kids did a much better job of executing our offense. They worked hard."
Pecatonica freshman Kole Kent scored a team-high 15 points and junior Drew Schliem scored 13 points. Pecatonica freshman A.J. Hendrickson was limited to nine points. With the loss, Pecatonica drops to 8-10, 5-4.
Marshall 76, New Glarus 41
NEW GLARUS - Capitol South Conference leader Marshall stayed in the driver's seat for a title rolling to a 76-41 win over New Glarus Friday.
Marshall (15-3, 8-0 Capitol South) outscored the Glarner Knights 19-8 in the first quarter and raced out to a 16 point lead at the half. Marshall senior Cam Ward scored a game-high 20 points.
"We had some opportunities early to finish some shots," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "We didn't shoot it particularly well in the first half. You have to play your best game, especially defensively. We played fairly well in the first half, but in the second it got away from us. But Marshall is a good team and they showed that tonight."
The Cardinals put the game away outscoring the Knights 24-9 in the third quarter. New Glarus sophomore Gavin Binger scored a team-high 13 points to lead the Knights.
"We've been practicing really well coming back into our last couple of games, it just hasn't carried over," Sysko said. "We're just going to keep plugging away in practice and keep working hard. Their balance was really good. They had another kid with 15 points, and (another with) 14 points. They just really stepped up and hit the shots when they needed them. They had a really good team effort."
Darlington 56, Southwestern 37
DARLINGTON - The Redbirds turned in a dominating defensive performance en route to a 56-37 win over Southwestern.
Darlington (10-6, 7-2 SWAL) led just 27-25 at the half. However, the Redbirds outscored the Wildcats 29-12 in the second half.
"We tightened up our defense; they had only six points in both the third and fourth quarters, each," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to take a two-point lead into halftime, and we carried that momentum into the half. The team came out with a little better defense.
"We got some easy baskets off our defense, switching defenses from a man to a zone, using different types of zone. I think we're starting to put it together at the right time. We had kind of struggled offensively, but we've been a lot more consistent lately, in the last three games especially."
Darlington junior Cole McDonald scored a game-high 20 points. Senior Tanner Wiegel scored 11 points and junior Ben Muhlstein added 10 points.
The Redbirds are now tied with Cuba City for second in the SWAL behind Mineral Point.
"Based on how we've struggled early in the season, now we're putting it together at the right time," Hopkins said.
Argyle 49, Juda 27
ARGYLE - Sophomore Riley Ostby scored a game-high 16 points to propel the Orioles to a 49-27 win over Juda.
Argyle (5-10, 2-6 Six Rivers East) put the game away with a 21-4 run in the third quarter. Argyle senior Alec Treuthardt scored 11 points and junior Colton Ploessl added eight points.
Juda junior Cory Segner scored a team-high 11 points and freshman Matt Schmitt chipped in eight points. With the loss, Juda drops to 1-16, 0-9.
