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Redbirds bury Miners in nonconference clash
Lancaster moves into 3rd all-time in school scoring, trailing father and Alex Erickson
rankin dunk
Darlington’s Cayden Rankin throws down a breakaway dunk Dec. 22 in a win at Shullsburg. - photo by By Thomas Gunnell

SHULLSBURG — Senior Carter Lancaster pumped in a game-high 24 points to lead four Darlington players in double figures as the Division 4’s fourth-ranked Redbirds buried the host Shullsburg Miners, 84-49, in a nonconference boys basketball game held at SHS on Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Seniors Cayden Rankin and Curtis Stone chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Redbirds (6-1 overall), while freshman Will Murray scored a career-high 10 points and junior Hunter Hardyman netted nine points to guide Darlington over Shullsburg for the fifth consecutive meeting.

Twelve players in all scored for Darlington in the victory.

The Redbirds reeled off the game’s first seven points to take a lead they would never surrender, and then quickly built the lead up to double digits at 13-2.

The Miners (3-2) got as close as five at 15-10 on 3-pointers by senior Brandon Hoppman and freshman Heath Poppy, but the ‘Birds outscored the hosts 27-13 over the final 11 minutes of the half to open up a 42-23 intermission advantage.

will murray
Will Murray puts up a shot in the lane during the first half of Darlington’s win over Shullsburg Dec. 22. - photo by By Thomas Gunnell

Lancaster, after matching Rankin with 10 points in the first half to move passed Gary Mevis (1,295) into third-place on the Redbirds’ all-time scoring list, poured in 14 more points in the second half to keep the ‘Birds comfortably in front of the Miners. Lancaster currently sits behind Alex Erickson (1,775) and his father, Aaron (1,391), with 1,316 career points.

Senior guard Brandon Hoppman led the Miners with 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Senior Brendan Kudronowicz added seven points, while Shullsburg’s leading scorer, senior Chandler Kelly, provided six boards, two assists and a blocked shot despite being held to a season-low four points.

Senior Michael Turpin and sophomore Evan Pederson came off the bench for a career-high five points as 10 Miners found their way into the scoring column on the night.

Darlington has a nonconference game against D2 10th-ranked Monroe (0-0) scheduled at MHS on Monday, Jan. 4, at 7:15 p.m. The ‘Birds return to SWAL play at Riverdale on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

Shullsburg will participate in the annual Mike Alexander Christmas Classic at Benton High School on Saturday, Jan. 2. Both semifinal games — Shullsburg vs. Southwestern and Benton vs. Argyle — will be played at 10 a.m. The championship game will follow at around noon in the high school gym, and the consolation game will be played in the grade school gym at the same time.

The Miners return to Six Rivers West play at Belmont on Tuesday, Jan. 5.