ARGYLE — When two teams ranked in the top ten in their divisions collide, something has to give.
Argyle-Pecatonica, ranked No. 2 in Division 5 and Deerfield, ranked No. 6 in Division 4 in the Bound Wisconsin/Zaleski media poll faced each other in a nonconference game on Tuesday Feb. 10. In this scenario, defense ruled over offense.
The Deerfield Demons got the best of Argyle-Pecatonica 52-44 in a game in which each team held the other under their scoring average. Argyle-Pecatonica (17-3) was held 21 points under their usual average of 65 points per game. The Demons (21-1) fell short of their season average by 16 points.
Senior Kylie Butler of Argyle-Pecatonica, who averages 21.5 points per game, was held to seven points. Junior Avari Steiner led the 78ers in scoring with 13 points. Junior Aleah Harris had one of her best games with 11 points and four rebounds. Junior Brooke Wellnitz made her presence felt with 10 rebounds.
Sophomore Syd Loerke is one of the scoring leaders for the Demons at 11.7 points per game, but AP held her to seven points.
How will this affect each team’s season come playoff time? Not at all.
Deerfield is in Division 4 and Argyle-Pecatonica is in Division 5. But, both teams now know they have defenses that can limit their opponents’ scoring output.
Argyle-Pecatonica still has a one game lead over Albany-Monticello in the Six Rivers East. AP (17-3, 11-1) had a Six Rivers Conference crossover game scheduled on Friday Feb. 13 in Argyle against Belmont. They will finish the regular season with a nonconference game at Lancaster on Feb. 17 and a Six Rivers Conference showdown with Barneveld on Feb. 19.
Barneveld 55, Albany-Monticello 49
BARNEVELD — The Albany-Monticello Space Stallions on Tuesday Feb. 10 experienced something they haven’t experienced since early December.
A loss.
The Barneveld Eagles defeated the Space Stallions a 55-49, ending AM’s winning streak at 17 games. Albany-Monticello hadn’t lost a game since a 42-38 setback to Argyle-Pecatonica on December 2.
The Eagles made a 28-21 halftime lead stick as senior Hannah Esch scored 15 points and senior Izzy Durst poured in 12 points to help Barneveld get the win.
Freshman Emersen Butts was the leading scorer for AM with 16 points. Senior Molly Olson had 15 points for Albany-Monticello. The Barneveld defense shined as sophomore Heidi Olson, who averages 16 points per game was held to seven points, and freshman Annie Olson who averages 7.6 points per game went scoreless.
These two teams will not face each other in the post-season as Barneveld is in Division 5 and Albany-Monticello will compete in Division 4.
Albany-Monticello (20-2, 10-2) had a Six Rivers crossover game scheduled on Friday Feb. 13 at Monticello against Shullsburg. Barneveld (14-7, 9-3) also had a Six Rivers crossover game scheduled at home against Highland on Friday, Feb. 13.
East Troy 49, Monroe 30
EAST TROY — The East Troy Trojans got 15 steals and held Monroe to just 12 points in the first half to take down the Cheesemakers 49-30 in Rock Valley Conference, Valley Division girls basketball on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Junior Braylee Friedrich did most of the scoring for Monroe with 15 points. Other scorers were sophomore Brynlee Scace with eight points and senior Alexis Gertsch with five points. Monroe had one early lead at 6-4 in the first half. They were able to cut the deficit to six with around seven minutes to go on a three by Scace but the Trojans pulled away the rest of the game.
Monroe (7-15, 1-11) will have their final home game of the regular season on Monday, Feb. 16 against Jefferson in RVC-Valley Division action. The regular season ends on Thursday, Feb. 19 on the road at Whitewater.
Darlington 59, Dodgeville 37
DARLINGTON — Three players in double figures and a team-high 19 assists carried the Darlington Redbirds past the Dodgeville Dodgers 59-37 in nonconference girls basketball on Monday, Feb. 9.
Senior Sadie Goebel led the Redbirds with 17 points. Senior Maddie Gratz had 14 points and seven rebounds, and junior Lilly Ritchie came up with 13 points for Darlington.
With the win, the Redbirds bumped their record up to 14-6. The Redbirds played at Iowa-Grant in a SWAL conference game on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Darlington 78, Iowa-Grant 27
DARLINGTON — Darlington played back-to-back nights of girls basketball with the Iowa-Grant Panthers in town for a SWAL conference game on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The Redbirds reached a season-high in points in a game with a 78-27 pounding of the Panthers.
Gratz scored 21 points and Ritchie had 14 points. Senior Sydney Wiegel came up with 10 points as the Redbirds notched their second straight win.
Darlington (15-6, 9-3) had a road game on their schedule as they traveled to Boscobel to meet the Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 23 in SWAL conference action.
