NEW GLARUS — The New Glarus Glarner Knights saw a 16 point first half lead vanish, but recovered in the second half to beat the Barneveld Eagles 56-45 in nonconference boys basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

The Knights held a 22-6 lead early in the first half with junior Bubba Weeden dropping in 10 of his 12 points. But the Eagles chipped away at the deficit and New Glarus’s lead was reduced to 29-25 at halftime.

Senior Tatem Stampfli made a couple of baskets early in the second half to keep the Knights in front 33-29, but Ty Thousand of Barneveld tied the game at 35-35 with a three with 13:30 left. The Eagles took the lead at 39-35 with 11:20 remaining, but, after a time out, New Glarus took control after that.

The Glarner Knights scored the next 15 points as junior Quinn Marty and senior Matt Roth got layups, Weeden hit two free throws, and junior Tucker Sysko got a steal and a layup. That gave New Glarus a 43-39 lead with 7:35 left. Junior Nolan Julseth made a spin move to the basket and followed with a breakaway layup and 3-point play plus Marty got a basket on an offensive rebound to put New Glarus on top 50-39. Meanwhile, Barneveld went scoreless for over seven minutes. Julseth sealed the win for the Glarner Knights with a pair of free throws with 1:00 left. 

Julseth led New Glarus with 17 points. Marty and Stampfli each had eight points. New Glarus (5-2) hosted Platteville in a nonconference game on Saturday, Jan. 3.