SOUTH WAYNE — In a game of runs, Monticello had the biggest one when it counted most to finish off the host Black Hawk Warriors, 48-31, in a Six Rivers East boys’ basketball game played on Friday, Dec. 10.
The Ponies (3-2 overall, 2-0 Six Rivers East) outscored the Warriors (2-4, 1-1) by a 20-1 margin over the final eight minutes, 44 seconds of the game to turn a two-point deficit into a 17-point victory. Coach Mark Olson squad went 14-for-22 from the foul line down the stretch and held the Warriors scoreless over the last four minutes of play.
“We struggled a little bit with their full-court pressure,” said Black Hawk head Trent Wyssbrod. “I never have any doubt about how much fight we have in us. We always play hard. We just couldn’t handle their press tonight.”
Black Hawk opened the second half with a 14-4 scoring burst over the first eight minutes, 45 seconds to erase a 24-16 halftime deficit. A banked-in 3-pointer by senior Dempsey Schliem tied the score at 28 all, and then junior Seth Dunlavey followed with a putback at the 9:15 mark to give the Warriors the lead at 30-28.
Monticello answered right back with an 11-0 run to go back in front 39-30 with 4:26 remaining. A free throw by senior Nathan Figi ended the run, but it was the last point the Warriors would score as the Ponies closed the game with nine unanswered points while shooting 7-for-11 from the foul line.
Black Hawk used an early 6-0 run to build up an early 8-2 lead, however the Ponies charged back with eight consecutive points to pull ahead 10-8.
The Warriors responded with six straight points to go back on top 14-10, but the Ponies galloped right back into the lead with a 14-0 scoring run to build up a 24-14 advantage.
A basket by Black Hawk senior Gabe Nelson with over five minutes remaining in the first half ended the Monticello streak and got the hosts back within eight.
Neither team scored the rest of the half as the Ponies took a 24-16 lead into the intermission.
Junior Jackson Eyler scored 10 of his game-high 13 points in the second half — including an 8-for-11 effort from the line — to lead the Ponies.
Senior Brayden Ryan finished with 11 points, while seniors Kade Ace and Evan Gruenther matched sophomore Ryer Indergand with eight points apiece for Monticello.
Figi netted eight points to pace Wyssbrod’s Warriors.
Dunlavey and fellow junior Lucas Milz scored six points apiece for Black Hawk.
The Warriors opened the Six Rivers East season by posting a 53-42 victory at Pecatonica on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
“That was a pretty good win. They have some players on their team, so I think that’s a huge win for us, especially for the first game of conference play,” Wyssbrod said.
The Warriors closed the first half riding a 15-4 scoring run to build up 27-22 halftime lead, and then used another 15-4 run at the end of the game to finish off the Vikings (1-5, 0-1) in their league opener.
Kegun Brunker tied the game at 38 all on a 3-pointer with just under six minutes remaining, but the Warriors netted nine of the next 10 points to regain the lead for good at 47-42.
Then, the Warriors put the game away from the foul line with Gabe Nelson sinking four free throws in the final minute of play to finish with a career-high 11 points.
“We made free throws at the end of the game and we took care of the ball. Those things make a big difference in the outcome of a game,” stated Wyssbrod.
Dempsey Schliem scored seven of his 11 points in the first half for the Warriors, while sophomore Andrew Figi tallied six of his career-best eight points in the opening half as well. Senior Elijah Shelton added eight points, while senior Dayton Burmeister scored seven and Nathan Figi chipped in with six for Black Hawk.
Brunker finished with a game-high 20 points for Pecatonica. Jameson Johnson hit double figures with 10 points and Tyler McKeon had six for the Vikings.
Black Hawk has a Six Rivers East game scheduled at Juda on Dec. 16, and the Warriors have non-conference games at home against Platteville on Saturday, Dec. 18 (2:30 p.m.) and at Dodgeville on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
