DARLINGTON - The Darlington boys basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak Thursday night with a 67-49 victory over Fennimore.
Darlington's offense was firing from the start, as the Redbirds took a 34-15 lead into the half. Fennimore outscored Darlington 34-33 in the second half, but that wasn't nearly enough to get back in the ball game.
"We had five guys that played together in the offense well," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We started a little different starting lineup. Either it was a coincidence or maybe the players are just tired of losing."
Hopkins said his team's defense created several scoring opportunities early-on.
"We pressed and caused a lot of turnovers," he said. "We got some easy looks at the basket. It was a combination of offense and initailly good defense."
Junior Michael Ruf led Darlington with 21 points. Other top scorers for Darlington were Cole McDonald (16 points) and Cade Hardyman (12 points).
"Michael Ruf had been starting off and on for us this year, and he was back in the starting lineup. He took a huge step forward," Hopkins said.
Hopkins said his team needs to see some more consistent play on both ends of the floor.
"We've been really inconsistent with our offense," he said. "We've played some good teams. Cuba City and Dodgeville are good teams. Still, we gave up way too many points, especially considering Cuba scored 80 against us (on Jan. 18) and the first game with them they only scored 57."
Darlington (6-11, 4-5 in the SWAL) takes on rival Mineral Point next Tuesday.
MCFARLAND 67, BRODHEAD 43
MCFARLAND - A lopsided first quarter was too much for the Brodhead boys basketball team to overcome Thursday night, as the Cardinals fell to McFarland.
Brodhead got down big early, as McFarland jumped out to a 24-7 lead after the first quarter. The Spartans expanded their lead to 37-15 at halftime.
"We were out two starters. (Kyle) Wescott has an injury and (Josiah) DeLorme has the flu. We were starting some guys that usually come off the bench for us. We didn't do a good job of getting back in transition," said Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer.
The Cardinals made a game of it in the third quarter, though, outscoring McFarland 17-6 in the quarter to draw within 11 points entering the fourth.
"In the third quarter, we did a better job of rotating on defense and boxing out. We talked about getting back in transition. We stayed in our 2-3 zone, and rebounded better. We slowed it down offensively. We were taking too quick of shots in the first half," Kammerer said. "We cut their lead to 10 at one point. I can't say enough about the kids' effort. They could have folded, but they kept fighting."
The short-handed Cardinals wore down in the final quarter, though, as the Spartans outscored them 24-11 in the fourth.
"We ran out of steam. It was probably a 14 or 16 point ball game when we subbed-out with about 3 minutes left," Kammerer said. "The kids were exhausted. When we have three linemen out there trying to run for 32 minutes, I knew we were gonna be pretty tired."
Trent Gerlach led the Cardinals with 14 points. Ned Slocum added 10 for Brodhead, and both Danny Lewis and Griffin Day chipped in eight.
"The scoring was pretty balanced," Kammerer said. "Gerlach did pretty good tonight. They have a 6-8 kid and Gerlach really stepped up on him. He also got down on the offensive end as well."
Brodhead (4-12) hosts Evansville next Tuesday.
Darlington's offense was firing from the start, as the Redbirds took a 34-15 lead into the half. Fennimore outscored Darlington 34-33 in the second half, but that wasn't nearly enough to get back in the ball game.
"We had five guys that played together in the offense well," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We started a little different starting lineup. Either it was a coincidence or maybe the players are just tired of losing."
Hopkins said his team's defense created several scoring opportunities early-on.
"We pressed and caused a lot of turnovers," he said. "We got some easy looks at the basket. It was a combination of offense and initailly good defense."
Junior Michael Ruf led Darlington with 21 points. Other top scorers for Darlington were Cole McDonald (16 points) and Cade Hardyman (12 points).
"Michael Ruf had been starting off and on for us this year, and he was back in the starting lineup. He took a huge step forward," Hopkins said.
Hopkins said his team needs to see some more consistent play on both ends of the floor.
"We've been really inconsistent with our offense," he said. "We've played some good teams. Cuba City and Dodgeville are good teams. Still, we gave up way too many points, especially considering Cuba scored 80 against us (on Jan. 18) and the first game with them they only scored 57."
Darlington (6-11, 4-5 in the SWAL) takes on rival Mineral Point next Tuesday.
MCFARLAND 67, BRODHEAD 43
MCFARLAND - A lopsided first quarter was too much for the Brodhead boys basketball team to overcome Thursday night, as the Cardinals fell to McFarland.
Brodhead got down big early, as McFarland jumped out to a 24-7 lead after the first quarter. The Spartans expanded their lead to 37-15 at halftime.
"We were out two starters. (Kyle) Wescott has an injury and (Josiah) DeLorme has the flu. We were starting some guys that usually come off the bench for us. We didn't do a good job of getting back in transition," said Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer.
The Cardinals made a game of it in the third quarter, though, outscoring McFarland 17-6 in the quarter to draw within 11 points entering the fourth.
"In the third quarter, we did a better job of rotating on defense and boxing out. We talked about getting back in transition. We stayed in our 2-3 zone, and rebounded better. We slowed it down offensively. We were taking too quick of shots in the first half," Kammerer said. "We cut their lead to 10 at one point. I can't say enough about the kids' effort. They could have folded, but they kept fighting."
The short-handed Cardinals wore down in the final quarter, though, as the Spartans outscored them 24-11 in the fourth.
"We ran out of steam. It was probably a 14 or 16 point ball game when we subbed-out with about 3 minutes left," Kammerer said. "The kids were exhausted. When we have three linemen out there trying to run for 32 minutes, I knew we were gonna be pretty tired."
Trent Gerlach led the Cardinals with 14 points. Ned Slocum added 10 for Brodhead, and both Danny Lewis and Griffin Day chipped in eight.
"The scoring was pretty balanced," Kammerer said. "Gerlach did pretty good tonight. They have a 6-8 kid and Gerlach really stepped up on him. He also got down on the offensive end as well."
Brodhead (4-12) hosts Evansville next Tuesday.
