BARNEVELD - The race for the Six Rivers East Conference title got a lot more interesting Thursday night as Juda stunned Barneveld 58-37 - handing the state's No. 6-ranked Division 5 team just its second loss of the season.
"Even after the losses to Monticello and Black Hawk, I truly believed that we are the best team in the conference," Juda coach Mike Armitage said.
"People ask me if I am surprised. I'm not surprised because I thought we could win. This doesn't prove anything. For one game we were better than Barneveld."
Juda (10-4, 4-3 Six Rivers East) jumped out to a 27-20 halftime lead. The Panthers outscored the Eagles 14-5 in the fourth quarter.
Juda's balanced attack was led by junior Cody Suiter's team-high 14 points. Senior Brandon Bauman and junior Matt Trotter each scored 12 points and senior Joey Jordan added 11 for the Panthers.
"That's as good as it gets," Armitage said of the balanced scoring. "It's been a long time since our boys went up there and were able to win."
Sam Nechkash scored 12 points to lead Barneveld (15-2, 7-1).
NEW GLARUS 61, BELLEVILLE 52
NEW GLARUS - Travis Sysko said his New Glarus boys basketball team was a little too willing to settle for the perimeter shot Thursday night in the first half against Belleville.
The Glarner Knights corrected that issue in the second half and pulled away for a 61-52 victory in Capitol South Conference play.
Belleville scored the game's first nine points and it was 9-9 at the end of the first quarter. The game went to halftime knotted at 25.
But the Glarner Knights (9-7, 5-1 Capitol South) found some separation in the second half.
"We just did a better job of attacking the zone and got some easy buckets inside," Sysko said. "The first half we kind of lived by the 3-pointer). The second half, we were able to get the ball inside and get some points and that was a big difference."
Sysko did add that seniors Riley Miller and Chris Pickett both hit big 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter to prevent a Belleville rally.
Sophomore Trae VandeBerg scored 15 points, while senior Tyler Kreklow and Miller each added 12. New Glarus hit 15 of 20 free throws.
"We battled back and overcame some adversity," Sysko said. "It was a great win for the kids."
Jared Rear scored 16 points and Garrison Woods added 11 for the Wildcats.
Monticello 66, Argyle 29
ARGYLE - Senior Lukas Kolasch scored 16 points, sophomore Lucas Marty had 14 and senior Austin Steffen added 12 for Monticello, which opened a 19-6 first-quarter lead and coasted in the Six Rivers East Conference game.
Argyle coach Brandon Bakken said the Ponies are a much better outfit than the first time they faced them.
"They treat every game as an opportunity to get better and obviously they have," Bakken said. "As this point they're getting ready for the tournament and we're getting ready for next season."
Senior Jared Johnson scored 15 points for Argyle (3-14, 0-8).
"Even after the losses to Monticello and Black Hawk, I truly believed that we are the best team in the conference," Juda coach Mike Armitage said.
"People ask me if I am surprised. I'm not surprised because I thought we could win. This doesn't prove anything. For one game we were better than Barneveld."
Juda (10-4, 4-3 Six Rivers East) jumped out to a 27-20 halftime lead. The Panthers outscored the Eagles 14-5 in the fourth quarter.
Juda's balanced attack was led by junior Cody Suiter's team-high 14 points. Senior Brandon Bauman and junior Matt Trotter each scored 12 points and senior Joey Jordan added 11 for the Panthers.
"That's as good as it gets," Armitage said of the balanced scoring. "It's been a long time since our boys went up there and were able to win."
Sam Nechkash scored 12 points to lead Barneveld (15-2, 7-1).
NEW GLARUS 61, BELLEVILLE 52
NEW GLARUS - Travis Sysko said his New Glarus boys basketball team was a little too willing to settle for the perimeter shot Thursday night in the first half against Belleville.
The Glarner Knights corrected that issue in the second half and pulled away for a 61-52 victory in Capitol South Conference play.
Belleville scored the game's first nine points and it was 9-9 at the end of the first quarter. The game went to halftime knotted at 25.
But the Glarner Knights (9-7, 5-1 Capitol South) found some separation in the second half.
"We just did a better job of attacking the zone and got some easy buckets inside," Sysko said. "The first half we kind of lived by the 3-pointer). The second half, we were able to get the ball inside and get some points and that was a big difference."
Sysko did add that seniors Riley Miller and Chris Pickett both hit big 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter to prevent a Belleville rally.
Sophomore Trae VandeBerg scored 15 points, while senior Tyler Kreklow and Miller each added 12. New Glarus hit 15 of 20 free throws.
"We battled back and overcame some adversity," Sysko said. "It was a great win for the kids."
Jared Rear scored 16 points and Garrison Woods added 11 for the Wildcats.
Monticello 66, Argyle 29
ARGYLE - Senior Lukas Kolasch scored 16 points, sophomore Lucas Marty had 14 and senior Austin Steffen added 12 for Monticello, which opened a 19-6 first-quarter lead and coasted in the Six Rivers East Conference game.
Argyle coach Brandon Bakken said the Ponies are a much better outfit than the first time they faced them.
"They treat every game as an opportunity to get better and obviously they have," Bakken said. "As this point they're getting ready for the tournament and we're getting ready for next season."
Senior Jared Johnson scored 15 points for Argyle (3-14, 0-8).
