NEW GLARUS - Monticello senior Bryce Klitzke scored a game-high 25 points to power the Ponies past New Glarus 65-57 in a non-conference game on Saturday.
Monticello coach Mark Olson said it's always a rivalry game when the two teams meet.
"They play football and run cross country together," Olson said. "When they step on the basketball floor, they want to get after each other."
Monticello (2-0) jumped out to a 14-3 first quarter lead and led by 11 points at halftime. Monticello sophomore Ben May scored 15 points and junior Lucas Marty added 14. May and Klitzke each hit two 3-pointers.
"We expect Bryce to score for us," Olson said. "What was even more impressive is Bryce had four or five steals that led directly to layups for us.
"I thought we were patient on offense and it led to some good looks. New Glarus got off to a slow start shooting."
New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said the Knights got good looks at the basket in the first quarter.
"They were just not going in," Sysko said. "For whatever the reason, there seemed to be a lid on the basket."
Both teams had their struggles at the free throw line. The Ponies shot just 9 of 22 at the foul line and the Knights were 7 of 15.
New Glarus senior Gabe Noyce scored a team-high 14 points and junior Caleb Fredrickson added 13 points. Junior Patrick Elzen added 11 points including three 3-pointers.
"They have three solid scorers," Sysko said of Klitzke, May and Marty. "We talked about trying to limit their three scorers. We would have liked to been able to keep one of them from scoring a lot of points. They all had solid games."
New Glarus (0-2) trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half. They had a chance to cut it to five points on a couple of possessions, but couldn't come through.
"It's hard when you dig yourself that big of a hole," he said.
Beloit Turner 64, Albany 61
ALBANY - Junior Isaiah Shell scored a game-high 32 points, but it wasn't enough as the Comets lost a non-conference game to Beloit Turner.
In the season opener against Shullsburg, the Comets had a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but couldn't close out the win. On Saturday, the Comets never led, but Shell missed a 3-pointer at the top of the key that would have sent the game to overtime.
"It's been the tale of the first two games," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We just can't find a way to close it out."
Shell scored 18 of his 32 points and made three of his four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Albany freshman Tyler Dahl and Shell both missed 3-pointers in the final 11 seconds that could have tied it. Shell grabbed a rebound after the Trojans missed two free throws and his 3-pointer from the top of the key rimmed out.
"There was nobody hotter," Doescher said. "He had a good look at it. Even if I would have had a timeout, I would not have drawn it up any differently."
The Trojans jumped out to a 24-10 first quarter lead and led by 10 points at halftime. The Comets shot just 16 of 31 at the free-throw line.
"The big thing we need is to have some role players step up and put the ball in the hole," Doescher said. "The defense isn't going to stop or lessen on Isaiah when we get to conference. We need some guys to step up and help carry the load."
Jefferson 51, Juda 36
FORT ATKINSON - Cody Suiter and Matt Trotter combined to score 25 points in a non-conference loss to Jefferson at the Health Care Classic.
Jefferson opened the game with a 17-7 surge and led by 14 points at halftime. Jefferson outscored the Panthers just 24-23 in the second half. Suiter scored a team-high 14 points and Trotter added 11 points.
Juda (0-2) has played two tough non-conference games against Platteville and Jefferson.
"I think we schedule games like this so we can get more competition for conference," Juda coach Mike Armitage said. "We get to see what our limitations are. We can find out who we are and what we need to be."
Armitage liked the way his team closed out the game.
"I think when we realize we have our back up against the wall we do fine and play to our potential," Armitage said. "We have to feel like our back is against the wall every game and not just in the last two minutes."
The Panthers are playing without senior Cole Bauman who has a knee injury.
"It's kind of a week-to-week thing," Armitage said. "We are waiting to see if there is a timetable after he goes to the doctor."
Mineral Point 63, Pecatonica 39
BLANCHARDVILLE - The Pointers thrashed Pecatonica in a non-conference game.
The Pointers outscored the Vikings 17-6 in the third quarter and never looked back.
Pecatonica sophomore Drew Schliem scored a team-high 21 points and senior Jon Hendrickson added 10 points.
Pecatonica shot just 9 of 20 from the free throw line. With the loss, Pecatonica drops to 1-1.
Monticello coach Mark Olson said it's always a rivalry game when the two teams meet.
"They play football and run cross country together," Olson said. "When they step on the basketball floor, they want to get after each other."
Monticello (2-0) jumped out to a 14-3 first quarter lead and led by 11 points at halftime. Monticello sophomore Ben May scored 15 points and junior Lucas Marty added 14. May and Klitzke each hit two 3-pointers.
"We expect Bryce to score for us," Olson said. "What was even more impressive is Bryce had four or five steals that led directly to layups for us.
"I thought we were patient on offense and it led to some good looks. New Glarus got off to a slow start shooting."
New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said the Knights got good looks at the basket in the first quarter.
"They were just not going in," Sysko said. "For whatever the reason, there seemed to be a lid on the basket."
Both teams had their struggles at the free throw line. The Ponies shot just 9 of 22 at the foul line and the Knights were 7 of 15.
New Glarus senior Gabe Noyce scored a team-high 14 points and junior Caleb Fredrickson added 13 points. Junior Patrick Elzen added 11 points including three 3-pointers.
"They have three solid scorers," Sysko said of Klitzke, May and Marty. "We talked about trying to limit their three scorers. We would have liked to been able to keep one of them from scoring a lot of points. They all had solid games."
New Glarus (0-2) trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half. They had a chance to cut it to five points on a couple of possessions, but couldn't come through.
"It's hard when you dig yourself that big of a hole," he said.
Beloit Turner 64, Albany 61
ALBANY - Junior Isaiah Shell scored a game-high 32 points, but it wasn't enough as the Comets lost a non-conference game to Beloit Turner.
In the season opener against Shullsburg, the Comets had a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but couldn't close out the win. On Saturday, the Comets never led, but Shell missed a 3-pointer at the top of the key that would have sent the game to overtime.
"It's been the tale of the first two games," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We just can't find a way to close it out."
Shell scored 18 of his 32 points and made three of his four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Albany freshman Tyler Dahl and Shell both missed 3-pointers in the final 11 seconds that could have tied it. Shell grabbed a rebound after the Trojans missed two free throws and his 3-pointer from the top of the key rimmed out.
"There was nobody hotter," Doescher said. "He had a good look at it. Even if I would have had a timeout, I would not have drawn it up any differently."
The Trojans jumped out to a 24-10 first quarter lead and led by 10 points at halftime. The Comets shot just 16 of 31 at the free-throw line.
"The big thing we need is to have some role players step up and put the ball in the hole," Doescher said. "The defense isn't going to stop or lessen on Isaiah when we get to conference. We need some guys to step up and help carry the load."
Jefferson 51, Juda 36
FORT ATKINSON - Cody Suiter and Matt Trotter combined to score 25 points in a non-conference loss to Jefferson at the Health Care Classic.
Jefferson opened the game with a 17-7 surge and led by 14 points at halftime. Jefferson outscored the Panthers just 24-23 in the second half. Suiter scored a team-high 14 points and Trotter added 11 points.
Juda (0-2) has played two tough non-conference games against Platteville and Jefferson.
"I think we schedule games like this so we can get more competition for conference," Juda coach Mike Armitage said. "We get to see what our limitations are. We can find out who we are and what we need to be."
Armitage liked the way his team closed out the game.
"I think when we realize we have our back up against the wall we do fine and play to our potential," Armitage said. "We have to feel like our back is against the wall every game and not just in the last two minutes."
The Panthers are playing without senior Cole Bauman who has a knee injury.
"It's kind of a week-to-week thing," Armitage said. "We are waiting to see if there is a timetable after he goes to the doctor."
Mineral Point 63, Pecatonica 39
BLANCHARDVILLE - The Pointers thrashed Pecatonica in a non-conference game.
The Pointers outscored the Vikings 17-6 in the third quarter and never looked back.
Pecatonica sophomore Drew Schliem scored a team-high 21 points and senior Jon Hendrickson added 10 points.
Pecatonica shot just 9 of 20 from the free throw line. With the loss, Pecatonica drops to 1-1.
