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D3 Playoffs: Redbirds advance to sectionals
Darlington beats New Glarus, Brodhead falls
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Darlington freshman Will Murray goes up for a shot in the lane while defended by New Glarus seniors Darris Schuett, left, and Mason Martinson. - photo by By Thomas Gunnell

DARLINGTON — The Redbirds continued their successful season by winning a WIAA Division 3 regional championship Feb. 20 over New Glarus, which came a night after escaping Belleville. 

Darlington (20-4) beat New Glarus 94-66 in the regional final, pulling away in the second half. The Redbirds led the Knights 39-31 at the intermission, but outscored New Glarus 55-35 in the second half.

Carter Lancaster and Hunter Hardyman each scored 23 points to lead Darlington. The Redbirds had five players in double figures in all, with Cayden Rankin (15), Curtis Stone (11) and Will Murray (10) joining Lancaster and Hardyman. Easton Evenstad finished with 8 points.

Four New Glarus players reached double figures as well. Senior Mason Martinson led the way with 16 points, while Darris Schuett had 11, Nathan Streiff 10 and Dain Walter 10. Carter Siegenthaler added 8 for the Knights.

Three of top five ranked teams in the state are in Darlington’s sectional. Fifth-ranked Darlington (20-4) is seeded third in the sectional tournament and will play second-seeded and fourth-ranked St. John’s Northwestern Academies (20-6) Feb. 25. The winner will take on either Poynette (12-8) or top-seeded Lake Country Lutheran (23-1). 

Brandin Posziemski of St. John’s is averaging 35 points per game this season — second in the state. He has scholarship offers from 13 different DI colleges. Teammate Brennan Timm is at 20.5. Lake Country Lutheran’s Luke Haertle is averaging a double-double at 25.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

In the regional semifinal win Feb. 19 against Belleville, Evenstad led all scorers with 22 points, followed by Stone (19), Lancaster (12), Rankin (11) and Murray (8).

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Darlington’s Cayden Rankin launches a jump shot against New Glarus in their WIAA Division 3 regional final game Feb. 20. - photo by By Thomas Gunnell

Darlington led the Wildcats 33-30 at halftime, but outscored lower-seeded Belleville 42-31 in the second half.

Also on Feb. 19, New Glarus defeated Prairie du Chien at home, 53-38.

Martinson was the only Knight in double figures, finishing with 12 points. Eight total Knights scored in the contest, with Streiff ending the night with 7, while Siegenthaler and Walter each had 8 points. New Glarus led at halftime 27-23.


Division 3

Regional semifinals, Feb. 19

St. John’s NW Academies 76, Brodhead 68

DELAFIELD — The Cardinals played one of its best games of the season at the most opportune time in a regional semifinal. However, fourth-ranked St. John’s also brought a good game of its own.

Owen Leifker scored 24 points and hit four 3s for Brodhead, while Connor Green (14) and Cade Walker (13) also reached double figures. The Cardinals finished 11 of 18 at the free throw line and knocked down 11 3s in the contest.

St. John’s was a 3-man show. Brandin Posziemski scored 39 points — for above his season average. Brennan Timm added 19 points and Hadyn Bensch knocked down four 3s and finished with 16 points. Only one other Lancer scored in the game.