NEW GLARUS - For a squad heralded for its offensive firepower, the New Glarus boys basketball team wants to be known for its shutdown defense.
New Glarus senior Logan Lockard stepped into the role as a defensive stopper and drew a charge with 3.7 seconds left to help the Glarner Knights survive a scare to beat Lake Mills, 46-43, Thursday night.
"I would have liked a five-point cushion or something, but we will take it," said New Glarus senior Cassidy Flannery, who scored a game-high 17 points.
"Coach just told us in the timeout, we had to get down and move our feet. Everyone buckled down and played good defense. We have been preaching defense. That is what will win us a conference championship."
New Glarus senior Jeremy Langfoss tipped in a Jake Bast missed jumper to give the Knights a 44-43 lead with 1 minute, 37 seconds left.
The Lake Mills offense short-circuited down the stretch, as the Knights' defense clamped down and held it scoreless the final 2:40.
With 1:32 left, the L-Cats ran the clock down to 13.4 seconds and were called for traveling, but Lake Mills came up with a steal on the press.
With 6.8 seconds left, Lockard and the Knights' defense made a critical stop, drawing a charge to wipe out any storybook ending by the L-Cats.
"That was a long 13 seconds," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said.
"The officials were trying to figure it out and get it right. They did. They did what they had to do."
Early on, the game had the makings of a non-conference battle that would come down to the wire. Lake Mills (8-7) scored the first five points and used a 12-3 first-quarter run highlighted by an alley-oop pass from Travis Meyers to Joseph Klocek.
New Glarus (11-2, 3-1 Capitol South) answered with a 13-3 second-quarter run fueled by Flannery, who scored 12 of his game-high 17 points in the first half. Bast drilled a 3-pointer from the wing with 7:23 left in the second quarter to cut the L-Cats' lead to 15-10.
Then Flannery went on a playmaking tear. He drained a 3-pointer to cut Lake Mills' lead to 17-13.
Flannery then did a spinning dribble on the break and knocked down a jumper, followed by a drive into the lane and kicked the ball out to senior Matt Felt, who hit a 3-pointer to give the Knights a 20-18 lead.
"We didn't want to come out flat in the second quarter," Flannery said. "We came out and played with intensity."
Lake Mills scored most of its 15 first-quarter points in the paint.
"I showed them the shot chart at the end of the first quarter," Sysko said. "They really buckled down in the second quarter and continued that defensive effort throughout the rest of the game."
New Glarus extended its lead, scoring six straight to open the third quarter, capped by a Langfoss basket down low to give the Knights a 29-21 lead. Flannery drained a 3-pointer from the wing late in the third quarter to give the Knights a 34-28 advantage.
That set the stage for a thrilling fourth quarter. The L-Cats didn'tt go quietly, regaining the lead on two free throws by Klocek.
Lake Mills senior Beau Hering made a spinning layup and Nick Dunkleberger nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the L-Cats a 43-39 lead with 2:40 left.
Bast answered with a 3-pointer to slice Lake Mills' edge to 43-42. Bast finished with 11 points and Langfoss added eight.
Lockard limited Klocek to 12 points after he entered the game averaging 13 points.
"(Lockard) was big defensively for us all night," Sysko said. "I thought he did an outstanding job on (Klocek) tonight."
New Glarus played without junior Ryan Bright, who was ill.
The Knights play Belleville in Milwaukee on Saturday.
Sysko said he hopes Bright can return and make the trip with the team.
New Glarus senior Logan Lockard stepped into the role as a defensive stopper and drew a charge with 3.7 seconds left to help the Glarner Knights survive a scare to beat Lake Mills, 46-43, Thursday night.
"I would have liked a five-point cushion or something, but we will take it," said New Glarus senior Cassidy Flannery, who scored a game-high 17 points.
"Coach just told us in the timeout, we had to get down and move our feet. Everyone buckled down and played good defense. We have been preaching defense. That is what will win us a conference championship."
New Glarus senior Jeremy Langfoss tipped in a Jake Bast missed jumper to give the Knights a 44-43 lead with 1 minute, 37 seconds left.
The Lake Mills offense short-circuited down the stretch, as the Knights' defense clamped down and held it scoreless the final 2:40.
With 1:32 left, the L-Cats ran the clock down to 13.4 seconds and were called for traveling, but Lake Mills came up with a steal on the press.
With 6.8 seconds left, Lockard and the Knights' defense made a critical stop, drawing a charge to wipe out any storybook ending by the L-Cats.
"That was a long 13 seconds," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said.
"The officials were trying to figure it out and get it right. They did. They did what they had to do."
Early on, the game had the makings of a non-conference battle that would come down to the wire. Lake Mills (8-7) scored the first five points and used a 12-3 first-quarter run highlighted by an alley-oop pass from Travis Meyers to Joseph Klocek.
New Glarus (11-2, 3-1 Capitol South) answered with a 13-3 second-quarter run fueled by Flannery, who scored 12 of his game-high 17 points in the first half. Bast drilled a 3-pointer from the wing with 7:23 left in the second quarter to cut the L-Cats' lead to 15-10.
Then Flannery went on a playmaking tear. He drained a 3-pointer to cut Lake Mills' lead to 17-13.
Flannery then did a spinning dribble on the break and knocked down a jumper, followed by a drive into the lane and kicked the ball out to senior Matt Felt, who hit a 3-pointer to give the Knights a 20-18 lead.
"We didn't want to come out flat in the second quarter," Flannery said. "We came out and played with intensity."
Lake Mills scored most of its 15 first-quarter points in the paint.
"I showed them the shot chart at the end of the first quarter," Sysko said. "They really buckled down in the second quarter and continued that defensive effort throughout the rest of the game."
New Glarus extended its lead, scoring six straight to open the third quarter, capped by a Langfoss basket down low to give the Knights a 29-21 lead. Flannery drained a 3-pointer from the wing late in the third quarter to give the Knights a 34-28 advantage.
That set the stage for a thrilling fourth quarter. The L-Cats didn'tt go quietly, regaining the lead on two free throws by Klocek.
Lake Mills senior Beau Hering made a spinning layup and Nick Dunkleberger nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the L-Cats a 43-39 lead with 2:40 left.
Bast answered with a 3-pointer to slice Lake Mills' edge to 43-42. Bast finished with 11 points and Langfoss added eight.
Lockard limited Klocek to 12 points after he entered the game averaging 13 points.
"(Lockard) was big defensively for us all night," Sysko said. "I thought he did an outstanding job on (Klocek) tonight."
New Glarus played without junior Ryan Bright, who was ill.
The Knights play Belleville in Milwaukee on Saturday.
Sysko said he hopes Bright can return and make the trip with the team.
