BALNACHARDVILLE - Pecatonica sophomore Logan Green erupted scoring a game-high 28 points to lead Pecatonica to a 63-42 win over Monticello Thursday.
With the win, Pecatonica (14-4, 9-1 Six Rivers East) clinched at least a share of the conference championship. Pecatonica can win the conference tittle outright by beating Juda Tuesday. Green hit three 3-pointers. Pecatonica junior Brooks Chandler added 10 points and sophomore A.J. Hendrickson chipped in eight points, grabbed 12 rebounds and added five assists.
"We are obviously thankful to know that we at least have a share of the conference championship," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "They deserve it and have been working hard."
With the win, Pecatonica snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Vikings outscored the Ponies 19-4 in the second quarter to take a 15-point lead at the half. Monticello senior Ben May scored a team-high 20 points. However, the Vikings limited May to just four points in the first half.
"I thought our man-to-man defense was much better," Fink said. "I thought we did a nice job of guarding Ben May. It (the second quarter run) was probably the difference in the game."
With the loss, Monticello drops to 1-18, 0-10 Six Rivers East. Pecatonica is getting healthier at the right time. Pecatonica senior Drew Schliem has returned to practice after a broken ankle suffered falling out of a tree stand and is expecting to play on Senior Night Feb. 26 against River Ridge. He suited up Thursday and went through warmups.
"In the best-case scenario we hope to have him out there for the last game on Senior Night against River Ridge. We are hoping on Senior Night he will really be able to play and not just be out there."
With the Vikings having a strong season, will the return of Schliem be a challenge to work into a rotation that has played well this season?
"We don't know where he will be physically when he comes back," Fink said. "We expect him to be a contributor when he comes back. Having him back will definitely be an attribute for us."
Barneveld 65, Albany 52
ALBANY - Barneveld senior Brycen Sorensen scored a game-high 25 points to help the Eagles roll to a 65-52 win over Albany Thursday.
Barneveld (10-9, 7-3 Six Rivers East) outscored the Comets 21-12 in the second quarter to take a nine-point halftime lead.
"We gave up way too many transition points because they beat us down the floor," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "This is a much different team than the last time we played. They have some good weapons. I chalk it up to them playing better than we did."
Barneveld's Matthew Myers added 12 points. Albany senior Mitchell Trow scored a team-high 14 points and junior Tyler Dahl added 13 points. With the loss, Albany drops to 7-12, 5-4. Albany will play at Argyle Tuesday.
"They have some weapons, and if you don't show up they will beat us," Doescher said.
Argyle 58,
Benton 53
BENTON - Argyle junior Riley Ostby scored a game-high 22 points to lift the Orioles to a 58-53 win over Benton.
The Zephyrs had a big edge in free throws made, making 14-2 over the Orioles. However, Argyle made four 3-pointers including two by junior Kyle Emberson, who scored 13 points. Argyle senior Colton Ploessl added 13 points.
With the win, Argyle improves to 5-11, 2-7 Six Rivers East.
Brodhead 41,
Big Foot 35
WALWORTH - The Brodhead boys basketball team lived at the free-throw line and pulled out a 41-35 win over Walworth Big Foot.
Brodhead (6-13, 3-10 Rock Valley South) made 13 of 24 free throws. The Cardinals had a big edge in free throws, making 21 more than the Chiefs attempted (2). Brodhead junior Ned Slocum scored a game-high 23 points. Senior teammate Josiah DeLorme added 10 points.
Darlington 56, Southwestern 37
HAZEL GREEN - Darlington used a big first quarter surge to set the tone in a 56-37 win over Southwestern.
Darlington (18-1, 10-1 SWAL) raced out to a 21-8 lead and led by 18 points at the half. Darlington senior Ben Muhlstein and sophomore Will Schwartz each scored a game-high 14 points. Senior teammate Cole McDonald added nine points.
The Redbirds, ranked No. 9 in the Division 4 Associated Press state poll, remain just one game behind No. 3-ranked Mineral Point. Darlington will host Mineral Point on Tuesday.
With the win, Pecatonica (14-4, 9-1 Six Rivers East) clinched at least a share of the conference championship. Pecatonica can win the conference tittle outright by beating Juda Tuesday. Green hit three 3-pointers. Pecatonica junior Brooks Chandler added 10 points and sophomore A.J. Hendrickson chipped in eight points, grabbed 12 rebounds and added five assists.
"We are obviously thankful to know that we at least have a share of the conference championship," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "They deserve it and have been working hard."
With the win, Pecatonica snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Vikings outscored the Ponies 19-4 in the second quarter to take a 15-point lead at the half. Monticello senior Ben May scored a team-high 20 points. However, the Vikings limited May to just four points in the first half.
"I thought our man-to-man defense was much better," Fink said. "I thought we did a nice job of guarding Ben May. It (the second quarter run) was probably the difference in the game."
With the loss, Monticello drops to 1-18, 0-10 Six Rivers East. Pecatonica is getting healthier at the right time. Pecatonica senior Drew Schliem has returned to practice after a broken ankle suffered falling out of a tree stand and is expecting to play on Senior Night Feb. 26 against River Ridge. He suited up Thursday and went through warmups.
"In the best-case scenario we hope to have him out there for the last game on Senior Night against River Ridge. We are hoping on Senior Night he will really be able to play and not just be out there."
With the Vikings having a strong season, will the return of Schliem be a challenge to work into a rotation that has played well this season?
"We don't know where he will be physically when he comes back," Fink said. "We expect him to be a contributor when he comes back. Having him back will definitely be an attribute for us."
Barneveld 65, Albany 52
ALBANY - Barneveld senior Brycen Sorensen scored a game-high 25 points to help the Eagles roll to a 65-52 win over Albany Thursday.
Barneveld (10-9, 7-3 Six Rivers East) outscored the Comets 21-12 in the second quarter to take a nine-point halftime lead.
"We gave up way too many transition points because they beat us down the floor," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "This is a much different team than the last time we played. They have some good weapons. I chalk it up to them playing better than we did."
Barneveld's Matthew Myers added 12 points. Albany senior Mitchell Trow scored a team-high 14 points and junior Tyler Dahl added 13 points. With the loss, Albany drops to 7-12, 5-4. Albany will play at Argyle Tuesday.
"They have some weapons, and if you don't show up they will beat us," Doescher said.
Argyle 58,
Benton 53
BENTON - Argyle junior Riley Ostby scored a game-high 22 points to lift the Orioles to a 58-53 win over Benton.
The Zephyrs had a big edge in free throws made, making 14-2 over the Orioles. However, Argyle made four 3-pointers including two by junior Kyle Emberson, who scored 13 points. Argyle senior Colton Ploessl added 13 points.
With the win, Argyle improves to 5-11, 2-7 Six Rivers East.
Brodhead 41,
Big Foot 35
WALWORTH - The Brodhead boys basketball team lived at the free-throw line and pulled out a 41-35 win over Walworth Big Foot.
Brodhead (6-13, 3-10 Rock Valley South) made 13 of 24 free throws. The Cardinals had a big edge in free throws, making 21 more than the Chiefs attempted (2). Brodhead junior Ned Slocum scored a game-high 23 points. Senior teammate Josiah DeLorme added 10 points.
Darlington 56, Southwestern 37
HAZEL GREEN - Darlington used a big first quarter surge to set the tone in a 56-37 win over Southwestern.
Darlington (18-1, 10-1 SWAL) raced out to a 21-8 lead and led by 18 points at the half. Darlington senior Ben Muhlstein and sophomore Will Schwartz each scored a game-high 14 points. Senior teammate Cole McDonald added nine points.
The Redbirds, ranked No. 9 in the Division 4 Associated Press state poll, remain just one game behind No. 3-ranked Mineral Point. Darlington will host Mineral Point on Tuesday.
