PLATTEVILLE — The Redbirds improved to 4-0 on the season with a 78-47 thumping of Platteville Dec. 14 in a boys basketball game.
Darlington, ranked third in the newest WisSports.net Coaches Poll released Dec. 16, led the Hillman 45-19 at halftime.
Cayden Rankin led Darlington with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. He was 8 of 10 from the field, and 4-for-4 from behind the 3-point line. Carter Lancaster scored 19 points and added 6 boards and 4 assists for the Redbirds. Curtis Stone also reached double figures in scoring with 13 points and 7 rebounds.
Darlington outrebounded Platteville 41-22 and shot 50% from the field on 64 shots, compared to Platteville’s 14 of 45 mark (31%).
Brodhead 66, Big Foot 57
WALWORTH — Connor Green hit three 3-pointers and scored 16 points, while Owen Leifker hit eight shots from the field for 17 points as the Cardinals picked up a solid road win against a Rock Valley Conference rival Dec. 15.
Brodhead trailed 28-27 at halftime but erupted for 39 points in the second half thanks to Green, who scored 14 of his 16 points after the break. Josiah Engen and Brady Malkow each had 10 points for the Cardinals, which finished 9 of 16 from the free throw line.
Monticello 62, Belmont 41
MONTICELLO — The Ponies led by 11 at halftime and outscored the Braves by 10 in the second half to pick up a Six Rivers crossover win Dec. 15.
Peter Gustafson led Monticello with 24 points from the field. He added 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Tristin Flanagan added 16 points and 7 boards for the Ponies.
In other boys basketball games on Dec. 15, Benton defeated Pecatonica 66-43, and Fall River held off a furious Albany comeback in the second half to win 69-62. On Dec. 14, Potosi beat Argyle 45-36 and Belmont upended Albany 60-44.
Girls Basketball
Black Hawk 80, Mineral Point 76, OT
MINERAL POINT — The Warriors have rarely found themselves trailing over the past four years, and have lost just one game in that time — the 2018 state championship against Bangor. On Dec. 14, Mineral Point gave Black Hawk one of its toughest tests on the court during that time, leading 38-31 at halftime before allowing the Warriors to tie the game before the end of regulation and winning in overtime.
Bailey Butler paced Black Hawk with 34 points on 15 of 21 shooting, including a 1-for-4 mark from deep. She added 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Kaylee Marty finished the night with 14 points and 4 assists, Raylin Peterson had 15 points and 5 boards, and Tara Wellnitz had 8 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists.
Black Hawk attempted just seven free throws in the contest, hitting six. The Warriors were also just 2 of 15 from beyond the arc. The Warriors (4-0) are the top-ranked team in Division 5 in the latest WisSports.net Coaches Poll from Dec. 15 and have now won 58 consecutive games dating back to 2018, which is among the longest in state history. Only seven other girls teams in history have had more consecutive wins.
New Glarus 46, Lodi 43
LODI — The Glarner Knights had just one person in double figures but balanced scoring up and down the lineup aided in a down-to-the-wire victory Dec. 14.
It was the team’s first road game of the year, New Glarus coach Kevin Parman said he was pleased to see his players adjust and react throughout the contest — especially on the defensive end. “Lodi has a lot of size and experience back from last year’s team,” Parman said. “It was great to see us play at an up-tempo pace and play great half-court defense at the same time. We came up with some big stops down the stretch.”
Jaylynn Benson led New Glarus with 11 points — 7 of which coming after halftime. Shealynn Klosterman-Havens, Grace Nommensen and Lindsey Schadewaldt was had eight points for the Knights, which led 26-23 at halftime. New Glarus was just 5 of 13 from the free throw line.
Albany 84, Juda 21
ALBANY — The Comets, recently ranked sixth in the state in Division 5 in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll, led the Panthers 51-13 at halftime Dec. 14.
Briana Dahl led Albany with 25 points, including 16 in the first half. Kaiya Zurfluh (15), Payton Wachholz (12) and Avary Briggs (9) all played important roles in scoring for the Comets. Gracie Freitag finished with 8 rebounds to lead the team, while Emileigh Dallman had an all-around solid effort with 6 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. The Comets defense finished with 25 steals.
Anna Skoumal led Juda with 10 points, scoring five in each half. The Panthers were just 3 of 16 from the free throw line and made just eight shots from the field.
In other area girls basketball scores, Darlington scored its first win of the season over Boscobel Dec. 15, 58-33; Monticello also got its first win, 28-22 over Parkview.
