NEW GLARUS - Monticello senior Ben May scored a game-high 18 points and the Ponies put on a shooting display in the first half to power them to a 51-43 win over New Glarus Saturday.
Monticello (1-1) made seven 3-pointers in the first half as the Ponies built a 32-21 lead at the half.
"We just didn't do a good job of closing out on their shooters and getting our hands up," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "I give Monticello a lot of credit. We left them open and they knocked them down."
The Glarner Knights limited the Ponies to just three field goals in the second half. However, the Ponies made 11 of 19 free throws in the fourth quarter to close out the win. Monticello sophomore Zach Price scored 11 points.
The Knights outscored the Ponies 22-19 in the second half, but still went through a scoring cold spell.
"We couldn't buy a basket," Sysko said. "We had plenty of opportunities in the second half. We couldn't find a way to get the ball to go down."
New Glarus senior Colton Boley scored a team-high 11 points to lead the Knights. Junior teammate Brandon Bailey scored 10 points and junior Gavin Binger added eight points. With the loss, New Glarus drops to -2. The Knights will host Lakeside Lutheran Tuesday.
"We have to be able to defend better," Sysko said. "Against Lakeside Lutheran, you have to be able to defend the dribble and handle their fullcourt press."
Beloit Turner 67, Albany 61
ALBANY - It was the tale of two halves for the Albany boys basketball team in a season-opening 67-61 non-conference loss to Beloit Turner Saturday.
The Trojans outscored the Comets 21-11 in the second quarter to build a 14-point lead at the half. Albany (90-1) turned the tables outscoring the Trojans 20-6 in the third quarter to tie the game at 40 heading into the fourth quarter.
Beloit Turner's Alex Fruin scored a game-high 28 points and made 12 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
"I don't think we showed up ready to play in the first half," Albany coach T.J. Zweifel said. "I think the third quarter showed we can play with anyone in our conference. No disrespect to any teams in our conference, but I think the third quarter showed we can play with a solid Beloit Turner team."
Albany's Mitchell Trow scored a team-high 24 points and junior Tyler Dahl added 14 points.
Mineral Point 56, Pecatonica 44
MINERAL POINT - A young Pecatonica boys basketball team found out a lot about their team in a 56-44 season-opening loss to Mineral Point.
Mineral Point, ranked No. 2 in Division 4, outscored the Vikings 14-7 in the second quarter to take a 10-point lead at the half. The Vikings played the Pointers even in the second half with both teams scoring 29 points.
"I think we had a winning effort, but not a winning execution," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "We didn't back down. Mineral Point went 25-1 last year and they have four returning players who are very solid."
Pecatonica sophomore A.J. Hendrickson scored a team-high 15 points and junior Brooks Chandler added 10 points. Sophomore teammate Logan Green chipped in eight points.
"We threw a lot of young guys in there for the first time on varsity and I think they competed at a high level."
Monticello (1-1) made seven 3-pointers in the first half as the Ponies built a 32-21 lead at the half.
"We just didn't do a good job of closing out on their shooters and getting our hands up," New Glarus coach Travis Sysko said. "I give Monticello a lot of credit. We left them open and they knocked them down."
The Glarner Knights limited the Ponies to just three field goals in the second half. However, the Ponies made 11 of 19 free throws in the fourth quarter to close out the win. Monticello sophomore Zach Price scored 11 points.
The Knights outscored the Ponies 22-19 in the second half, but still went through a scoring cold spell.
"We couldn't buy a basket," Sysko said. "We had plenty of opportunities in the second half. We couldn't find a way to get the ball to go down."
New Glarus senior Colton Boley scored a team-high 11 points to lead the Knights. Junior teammate Brandon Bailey scored 10 points and junior Gavin Binger added eight points. With the loss, New Glarus drops to -2. The Knights will host Lakeside Lutheran Tuesday.
"We have to be able to defend better," Sysko said. "Against Lakeside Lutheran, you have to be able to defend the dribble and handle their fullcourt press."
Beloit Turner 67, Albany 61
ALBANY - It was the tale of two halves for the Albany boys basketball team in a season-opening 67-61 non-conference loss to Beloit Turner Saturday.
The Trojans outscored the Comets 21-11 in the second quarter to build a 14-point lead at the half. Albany (90-1) turned the tables outscoring the Trojans 20-6 in the third quarter to tie the game at 40 heading into the fourth quarter.
Beloit Turner's Alex Fruin scored a game-high 28 points and made 12 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
"I don't think we showed up ready to play in the first half," Albany coach T.J. Zweifel said. "I think the third quarter showed we can play with anyone in our conference. No disrespect to any teams in our conference, but I think the third quarter showed we can play with a solid Beloit Turner team."
Albany's Mitchell Trow scored a team-high 24 points and junior Tyler Dahl added 14 points.
Mineral Point 56, Pecatonica 44
MINERAL POINT - A young Pecatonica boys basketball team found out a lot about their team in a 56-44 season-opening loss to Mineral Point.
Mineral Point, ranked No. 2 in Division 4, outscored the Vikings 14-7 in the second quarter to take a 10-point lead at the half. The Vikings played the Pointers even in the second half with both teams scoring 29 points.
"I think we had a winning effort, but not a winning execution," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said. "We didn't back down. Mineral Point went 25-1 last year and they have four returning players who are very solid."
Pecatonica sophomore A.J. Hendrickson scored a team-high 15 points and junior Brooks Chandler added 10 points. Sophomore teammate Logan Green chipped in eight points.
"We threw a lot of young guys in there for the first time on varsity and I think they competed at a high level."
