ALBANY - The Albany boys basketball team lives to play another day, after topping Juda 57-45, in a Division 4 regional opener Tuesday.
After splitting its season matchup with Juda (5-14), Albany (11-10) got a chance to play its favorite rival right out of the postseason gate.
"Juda is our biggest rival. Both of our schools are so close in size and competitiveness that it's always a good fight," Albany head coach Derik Doescher said. "Between these two teams, it doesn't matter if one team is 20-0 or 0-20, you can throw the records out the window."
Albany jumped to a 13-9 lead after the first quarter and led 24-20 at halftime.
By the end of the third quarter, the Comets' lead had grown to 36-29.
"With these two teams, a lead is never safe. Especially with the kids that Juda has. (Beau) Benner and (Tyler) Pierce are two of the best players in the conference," Doescher said.
Albany held on by hitting its free throws down the stretch.
"To Juda's credit, it was a battle. They fought hard," Doescher said. "Our kids stepped up. It's been an amazing second half. We started the conference season 1-5 and finished 5-1 down the stretch. Their effort and enthusiasm has led to a lot of confidence."
Jake Lincicum scored 18 points for Albany. Mike Elmer scored 12 points off the bench for the Comets, Tyler Bauman scored 11 and T.J. Zweifel added eight points.
For Juda, Benner scored 17 points and Pierce had 16. Dylan Bauman added a third threat, finishing with seven points.
Albany now has a chance to take on Burlington Catholic Central (12-8), which has won the regional title the past five seasons.
"Juda and Albany have been in this regional for five years now, and Catholic Central has won it every time. But this is the tournament, and anything can happen," Doescher said.
SHULLSBURG 44, BLACK HAWK 22
SHULLSBURG - Warriors head coach Jerry Mortimer picked up a memorable victory in his last home game against Monticello two weeks ago. In the first round of the playoffs, Mortimer's coaching career ended abruptly.
Getting tabbed with a No. 5 seed meant the possibility of Black Hawk (12-9) hosting one more game this season was all but over.
Black Hawk was cold from the start and trailed 18-11 at halftime, then 28-17 after three quarters.
A 16-5 drubbing by Shullsburg (13-8) in the fourth quarter knocked Black Hawk out of the playoffs.
Michael Place scored eight points, and was the only Warrior to score more than one basket.
SOUTHWESTERN 53, ARGYLE 32
HAZEL GREEN - The Orioles' season came to an end the way it has much of the season.
Argyle had a knack all year for staying in most games well into the second half before faltering down the stretch.
Against Southwestern (13-7) in the first round of the state playoffs, the Orioles (8-13) again found themselves fighting for an upset.
Southwestern led 13-10 after the first quarter and 21-18 at halftime. That lead stretched to 33-27 after the third quarter.
Then, like clockwork, Argyle's lack of depth proved costly. The Orioles ran out of steam in the fourth, getting outscored 20-5 in the frame.
Taylor Saalsaa finished with a game-high 13 points for Argyle and teammate Kevin Berg added 10.
Southwestern had nine players score in the game, with six scoring more than six points. Arygle had just five players score, with only Andy Bohlman (five points) netting more than one basket.
After splitting its season matchup with Juda (5-14), Albany (11-10) got a chance to play its favorite rival right out of the postseason gate.
"Juda is our biggest rival. Both of our schools are so close in size and competitiveness that it's always a good fight," Albany head coach Derik Doescher said. "Between these two teams, it doesn't matter if one team is 20-0 or 0-20, you can throw the records out the window."
Albany jumped to a 13-9 lead after the first quarter and led 24-20 at halftime.
By the end of the third quarter, the Comets' lead had grown to 36-29.
"With these two teams, a lead is never safe. Especially with the kids that Juda has. (Beau) Benner and (Tyler) Pierce are two of the best players in the conference," Doescher said.
Albany held on by hitting its free throws down the stretch.
"To Juda's credit, it was a battle. They fought hard," Doescher said. "Our kids stepped up. It's been an amazing second half. We started the conference season 1-5 and finished 5-1 down the stretch. Their effort and enthusiasm has led to a lot of confidence."
Jake Lincicum scored 18 points for Albany. Mike Elmer scored 12 points off the bench for the Comets, Tyler Bauman scored 11 and T.J. Zweifel added eight points.
For Juda, Benner scored 17 points and Pierce had 16. Dylan Bauman added a third threat, finishing with seven points.
Albany now has a chance to take on Burlington Catholic Central (12-8), which has won the regional title the past five seasons.
"Juda and Albany have been in this regional for five years now, and Catholic Central has won it every time. But this is the tournament, and anything can happen," Doescher said.
SHULLSBURG 44, BLACK HAWK 22
SHULLSBURG - Warriors head coach Jerry Mortimer picked up a memorable victory in his last home game against Monticello two weeks ago. In the first round of the playoffs, Mortimer's coaching career ended abruptly.
Getting tabbed with a No. 5 seed meant the possibility of Black Hawk (12-9) hosting one more game this season was all but over.
Black Hawk was cold from the start and trailed 18-11 at halftime, then 28-17 after three quarters.
A 16-5 drubbing by Shullsburg (13-8) in the fourth quarter knocked Black Hawk out of the playoffs.
Michael Place scored eight points, and was the only Warrior to score more than one basket.
SOUTHWESTERN 53, ARGYLE 32
HAZEL GREEN - The Orioles' season came to an end the way it has much of the season.
Argyle had a knack all year for staying in most games well into the second half before faltering down the stretch.
Against Southwestern (13-7) in the first round of the state playoffs, the Orioles (8-13) again found themselves fighting for an upset.
Southwestern led 13-10 after the first quarter and 21-18 at halftime. That lead stretched to 33-27 after the third quarter.
Then, like clockwork, Argyle's lack of depth proved costly. The Orioles ran out of steam in the fourth, getting outscored 20-5 in the frame.
Taylor Saalsaa finished with a game-high 13 points for Argyle and teammate Kevin Berg added 10.
Southwestern had nine players score in the game, with six scoring more than six points. Arygle had just five players score, with only Andy Bohlman (five points) netting more than one basket.
