DARLINGTON — After scoring a season-low 46 points in a loss to Southwestern that broke their 16-game winning streak on Feb. 13, the Darlington Redbirds put up offensive fireworks in a 93-67 drubbing of the New Glarus Glarner Knights in a nonconference game on Monday, Feb. 23.
The Redbirds took command with a 44-32 lead at halftime and made 15 threes for the game. Senior Broker Buschor led the Birds’ stat line featuring a double-double with 28 points, eight threes, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Sophomore Ryder Fitzsimons scored 19 points and junior Zeke Zuberbuhler tacked on 12 points. The Birds had 12 players who scored in the game.
The Knights were led by juniors Quinn Marty and Nolan Julseth with 13 points each. Seniors Matt Roth and Tatem Stampfli each put up nine points for the Glarner Knights.
Darlington (20-3, 12-1 SWAL) finished their regular season schedule on Thursday, Feb. 26 with a SWAL game at home against Riverdale. The Redbirds, ranked No. 6 in the Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski sports boys basketball poll in Division 4, received the No. 1 seed in the Division 4 regional and will take on either No. 8 seed Brodhead or No. 9 seed Belleville in a regional semifinal on Friday March 6.
New Glarus (14-9, 7-2 Capitol South) and first-place Cambridge were to battle for a Capitol South Conference title on Thursday, Feb. 26. A win by the Glarner Knights would create a tie for the conference championship between the two schools. The Knights have the No. 5 seed in the Division 3 regionals and take on No. 12 seed Viroqua at home in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3.
Belleville 64, Pardeeville 62
BELLEVILLE — Senior Jackson Scholey put up 25 points while sophomore Brody Funseth had 14 points and senior Hazeon Edmond scored 13 points as the Belleville Wildcats survived a wild ending to a 64-62 win over the Pardeeville Bulldogs in nonconference boys basketball on Monday, Feb. 23.
The first half belonged to the Wildcats, who took a 32-19 halftime lead. But, the Bulldogs stormed back in the second half to get a 57-56 lead. With 1:12 remaining in the game, Scholey was fouled and made the first free throw to tie the game at 57-57. Scholey missed the second free throw but senior Isaac Patrow got the rebound and was fouled. Patrow made two free throws to give the Wildcats a 59-57 lead with 59 seconds remaining.
On the next possession, Pardeeville’s Devin Jerome was fouled and made the first of two free throws. Jerome missed the second, and Scholey got the rebound and was fouled with 43 seconds remaining. Scholey made two free throws which put Belleville ahead 61-58. Jerome followed with a layup to make the score 61-60 and Edmond was fouled with 21 seconds left in the game. Edmond made two free throws to give the Wildcats a 63-60 cushion.
Julian Wells of Pardeeville scored a basket and was fouled with 11 seconds left. With Belleville ahead 63-62, Wells missed the free throw and sophomore Brody Funseth secured the rebound and was fouled. At the line, Funseth missed both free throws but got the rebound on the second miss and was fouled with six seconds left. In the double bonus, Funseth made the first free throw to make it 64-62, but missed the second. Wells got the rebound for Pardeeville and drove the length of the court but missed a layup and teammate Cody Gentz missed a putback at the buzzer that would have tied the game and sent it into overtime.
Turner 77, Brodhead 30
BRODHEAD — The Turner Trojans used a 44-11 advantage in the second half to blow out the Brodhead Cardinals 77-30 in Rock Valley Conference, Rock Division boys basketball on Monday, Feb. 23.
The Cardinals were down 33-19 at halftime but scored just 11 points in the second half. The Trojans made 11 three-pointers to run away with the win.
Senior Nolan Bump scored seven points to lead the Cardinals and junior Landen Malcook had six points.
Brodhead (4-19, 2-12 RVC-Rock) finished their regular season with a game at Big Foot on Thursday, Feb. 26. The Cardinals are a No. 9 seed in the Division 4 regional and will play at No. 8 seed Belleville in a regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3.
Johnson Creek 61, Albany 52
JOHNSON CREEK — Junior Ty Durtschi scored 19 points and senior Kaleb Broughton produced 16 points but it wasn’t enough for the Albany Comets to get a road win as they fell to the Johnson Creek Blue Jays 61-52 in a nonconference game on Monday, Feb. 23.
The Blue Jays led 27-21 at halftime and both teams went back-and forth in the early part of the second half. Once Johnson Creek got a 42-41 lead in the second half, they never trailed the rest of the way.
Albany (8-15) hosted Fall River in another nonconference game on Thursday, Feb. 26. The Comets are a No. 11 seed in the Division 5 regional and will play at No. 6 seed Randolph on Tuesday, March 5 in a regional quarterfinal.
River Ridge 100, Argyle 48
BLOOMINGTON — The River Ridge Timberwolves put up 59 points in the first half and routed the Argyle Orioles 100-48 in a Six Rivers Conference crossover game on Monday, Feb. 23.
The Timberwolves had five players score in double figures and made 11 three-pointers. A bright spot for the Orioles was senior Deacon Kuebli who scored 31 points, but only three other players scored for the Orioles.
Argyle (9-14, 7-10 Six Rivers East) was to play Monticello in the regular season finale Thursday, Feb. 26. After that, the postseason begins on Tuesday, March 3 as No. 10 seed Argyle travels to No. 7 seed Fall River.
Williams Bay 76, Monticello 44
MONTICELLO — The Williams Bay Bulldogs raced out to a 44-17 halftime lead and never looked back in a 76-44 win over the Monticello Ponies in nonconference boys basketball on Monday, Feb. 23.
Junior Tanner Hilliard was the leading scorer for the Ponies with 10 points. Junior Hunter Grossen followed with eight points and junior Milo Smith seven.
Monticello (1-22 is a No. 16 seed for the Division 5 regionals and will play at No. 1 seed Abundant Life Christian on Tuesday, March 3 in a regional quarterfinal.
