ALBANY - The Albany Comets burnt through some trying deja vu at home Thursday to earn a 59-44 girls basketball victory over Shullsburg, whom they defeated twice last season.
Albany (5-4 overall) guard Jordan Mauerman dislocated her left knee cap midway through the first quarter of the Six Rivers crossover contest. After watching their close friend be taken away in an ambulance, a process that took about 20 minutes, the Comets got down to business.
"I really think the girls put it off to the side the same way Jordan would have done," Albany coach Brandon Bakken said.
The Comets outscored Shullsburg (2-7) 15-9 in the third quarter after leading 24-21 at the break. Albany senior guard Amy Golz scored 14 of her team-high 20 points after intermission.
Shullsburg sophomore point guard Alyssa Graham led all scorers with 22 points, but only seven came after the half.
Albany travels to Beloit Turner on Monday before a big opportunity when Barneveld visits next Friday.
Darlington 45, Iowa-Grant 17
The Redbirds just needed to get their legs back up to speed.
Darlington (5-2 overall, 2-1 SWAL) only led Iowa-Grant 18-10 at the half before bursting out to a 27-7 second-half routing of the Panthers. The Redbirds hadn't played a game since Dec. 18.
"It had been so long for us," Redbirds head coach Kurt Cohen said. "(We were) kicking off the rust to start."
Kari Blosch led the Redbirds with 11 and Cassie Fink added 10 in the victory. SWAL play continues for Darlington when Fennimore visits Tuesday.
River Ridge 51, Black Hawk 44
Mike Flanagan may stop at the hardware store tomorrow to pick up some Rustoleum just for good measure.
His Lady Warriors led 21-15 at the half at River Ridge before the Timberwolves (7-1 overall) showed their fangs with 15 and 21 points in the last two frames. Black Hawk (7-2) only came up with 6 and 17, respectively.
"If you go up there and don't play well in every phase and finish strong, you're not going to beat a team like that one," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk hadn't played since Dec. 21 and was led by junior Paige Butler's 18 points.
"You can make it as competitive as you want in practice, but you can never completely simulate a game situation," Flanagan said.
Erin Martin scored all 15 of her points in the second half for River Ridge. Black Hawk hopes to turn around with a fury as Barneveld swings by South Wayne on Tuesday night.
Argyle 50, Benton 32
Talk about stuffing the stat sheet.
All but one name on Steve Dammen's varsity Orioles roster scored a point in a victory in Benton which was less than convincing until the second half.
"Quite honestly, we had a flat first half," Dammen said, "but we stepped it up on defense in the second."
The Orioles led just 17-12 at the break, but rattled off a lopsided 33-20 second half.
Senior Brittany Flannery led the surge for Argyle (6-4) with 16 points, while Danielle Dixon scored a game-high 17 for Benton.
Argyle hosts Parkview in a tough matchup Saturday before traveling to Pecatonica on Tuesday.
Belmont 60, Juda 29
Three times is not a charm in Juda.
After winning both games at the weekend's Greshman Tournament, including the title match over Menomonee Indian, the home floor was hardly welcoming for Curt Brown's young squad.
"We had more fans than we've had in quite some time and maybe it was the pressure that got to us," Brown said.
It's a whole different ballgame in southern Wisconsin, where the coach assessed how Indian would shape up in the Six Rivers East.
"They probably finish fourth in our conference," Brown said.
Six Rivers West's Belmont (5-3) was led by Kassi Kamps' 20 points and 10 points apiece from Rachel Bartels and Heather Boeke.
Juda (2-8) travels Tuesday to Monticello, where one grateful club will collect its first league victory.
Lake Mills 57, New Glarus 22
The L-Cats leapt all over the Glarner Knights to the tune of a 27-11 halftime lead an it only got worse when Mills opened up a 19-5 third frame Thursday night.
"It was simple fundamentals, throwing the ball away and we just looked nervous out there," New Glarus coach Braden Rindy said.
Shanna Karls dropped in nine points in the losing effort for New Glarus, which allowed 11 L-Cats into the scoring column.
Albany (5-4 overall) guard Jordan Mauerman dislocated her left knee cap midway through the first quarter of the Six Rivers crossover contest. After watching their close friend be taken away in an ambulance, a process that took about 20 minutes, the Comets got down to business.
"I really think the girls put it off to the side the same way Jordan would have done," Albany coach Brandon Bakken said.
The Comets outscored Shullsburg (2-7) 15-9 in the third quarter after leading 24-21 at the break. Albany senior guard Amy Golz scored 14 of her team-high 20 points after intermission.
Shullsburg sophomore point guard Alyssa Graham led all scorers with 22 points, but only seven came after the half.
Albany travels to Beloit Turner on Monday before a big opportunity when Barneveld visits next Friday.
Darlington 45, Iowa-Grant 17
The Redbirds just needed to get their legs back up to speed.
Darlington (5-2 overall, 2-1 SWAL) only led Iowa-Grant 18-10 at the half before bursting out to a 27-7 second-half routing of the Panthers. The Redbirds hadn't played a game since Dec. 18.
"It had been so long for us," Redbirds head coach Kurt Cohen said. "(We were) kicking off the rust to start."
Kari Blosch led the Redbirds with 11 and Cassie Fink added 10 in the victory. SWAL play continues for Darlington when Fennimore visits Tuesday.
River Ridge 51, Black Hawk 44
Mike Flanagan may stop at the hardware store tomorrow to pick up some Rustoleum just for good measure.
His Lady Warriors led 21-15 at the half at River Ridge before the Timberwolves (7-1 overall) showed their fangs with 15 and 21 points in the last two frames. Black Hawk (7-2) only came up with 6 and 17, respectively.
"If you go up there and don't play well in every phase and finish strong, you're not going to beat a team like that one," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk hadn't played since Dec. 21 and was led by junior Paige Butler's 18 points.
"You can make it as competitive as you want in practice, but you can never completely simulate a game situation," Flanagan said.
Erin Martin scored all 15 of her points in the second half for River Ridge. Black Hawk hopes to turn around with a fury as Barneveld swings by South Wayne on Tuesday night.
Argyle 50, Benton 32
Talk about stuffing the stat sheet.
All but one name on Steve Dammen's varsity Orioles roster scored a point in a victory in Benton which was less than convincing until the second half.
"Quite honestly, we had a flat first half," Dammen said, "but we stepped it up on defense in the second."
The Orioles led just 17-12 at the break, but rattled off a lopsided 33-20 second half.
Senior Brittany Flannery led the surge for Argyle (6-4) with 16 points, while Danielle Dixon scored a game-high 17 for Benton.
Argyle hosts Parkview in a tough matchup Saturday before traveling to Pecatonica on Tuesday.
Belmont 60, Juda 29
Three times is not a charm in Juda.
After winning both games at the weekend's Greshman Tournament, including the title match over Menomonee Indian, the home floor was hardly welcoming for Curt Brown's young squad.
"We had more fans than we've had in quite some time and maybe it was the pressure that got to us," Brown said.
It's a whole different ballgame in southern Wisconsin, where the coach assessed how Indian would shape up in the Six Rivers East.
"They probably finish fourth in our conference," Brown said.
Six Rivers West's Belmont (5-3) was led by Kassi Kamps' 20 points and 10 points apiece from Rachel Bartels and Heather Boeke.
Juda (2-8) travels Tuesday to Monticello, where one grateful club will collect its first league victory.
Lake Mills 57, New Glarus 22
The L-Cats leapt all over the Glarner Knights to the tune of a 27-11 halftime lead an it only got worse when Mills opened up a 19-5 third frame Thursday night.
"It was simple fundamentals, throwing the ball away and we just looked nervous out there," New Glarus coach Braden Rindy said.
Shanna Karls dropped in nine points in the losing effort for New Glarus, which allowed 11 L-Cats into the scoring column.
