SOUTH WAYNE - Not liking the way they played in a loss to Potosi on Monday, Black Hawk's boys basketball players got down and dirty in practices this week.
"We players just said enough is enough and have really picked up the intensity in practice," said senior guard Payton Schliem, who scored 19 points in the Warriors' 60-48 win over Juda on Thursday. The win helped Black Hawk (5-2, 2-1) back into a share of the Six Rivers East lead.
"We came out of the gate really well," Black Hawk coach Jerry Mortimer said. "I was impressed with the emotion we came out with. And our defense was really tough initially."
Though the Panthers got on the board first in the game's first few seconds, it was the Warriors who grabbed hold of the momentum.
Black Hawk scored 13 straight points over the next four minutes - Schliem scoring seven of them, including a big 3-pointer.
#Juda got a little bit of help at the end of the frame thanks to baskets by Bryan Bauman and Tyler Pierce (16 points) to trim the lead to 13-9.
In the second quarter, the Warriors took off, led by Michael Place. The senior post player scored a game-high 26 points (seven in the second quarter) and pulled down 10 rebounds.
"Mike deserves all the success he is getting. He is one of the hardest workers, he's in the weight room constantly and he is a true team player," Mortimer said.
By halftime, Black Hawk had built its lead to 30-17.
"In the first half they were up and we weren't," Juda head coach Andy Werner said. "Then we had to scramble and make some things happen. I told the kids I want them to show some fight in the second half."
Pierce scored seven points in the half and Beau Benner, who was held scoreless in the first quarter, finished the second quarter with six of his team-high 20 points.
"Beau Benner is a tough kid to guard - he's got such an arch on his shot it's almost impossible to block," Mortimer said.
In the second half, Schliem continued dishing the ball to wide open teammates - especially Place. The pair combined for 24 points in the second half and grabbed rebounds and steals as if they would spark the nation's economy.
By the end of the third quarter, Black Hawk held a 43-28 lead.
"I give Juda a lot of credit - they don't pack it up," Mortimer said.
Juda didn't let the score - or a couple of questionable calls - get into their heads. The Panthers showed incredible intensity on the defensive end and a never-ending desire on the offensive side of the court to get back into the game.
Black Hawk, which led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, went into "don't lose" mode. With Juda's pressure and will to get back into the game, the on-court action picked up and the Panthers pulled to within 45-36 with 4:04 left to play.
"Juda had some good looks and they could have tightened the game up even more," Mortimer said. "I give Andy's team a lot of credit."
But a series of fouls and a goaltending call took some of the spark out of the comeback and the Warriors pulled away.
"I was happy with the effort at the end, and that's all I can ask for," Werner said.
Juda knows it needs to improve, and Werner thinks his Panthers can.
"We've competed with everyone all year, now it's just a matter of getting over the hump," he said.
Black Hawk has shown a great deal of improvement since a week two loss to Pecatonica at home. However, after not playing a game over the holiday break, the rust still is showing.
"We're still not where I want to be. Maybe the 13 days off was the reason for the way we played against Potosi," Mortimer said.
"At times today we looked like a good basketball team. I think we can make some noise in this conference. We'll know where we stand in about a week and a half. Some teams just hit a certain level and don't get any better. So we'll see."
As for Schliem, a career night all over the floor was just what the doctor ordered.
"I didn't really play very well against Potosi. I really needed this," he said.
Black Hawk shot 52.5 percent from the floor in the game, and was 6-for-12 from the free throw line. Eight different players reached the scorebook.
Juda shot 40.4 percent from the field and was just 2-for-4 from the charity stripe. Only five Panthers scored in the game, with Dylan Bauman adding seven.
"We players just said enough is enough and have really picked up the intensity in practice," said senior guard Payton Schliem, who scored 19 points in the Warriors' 60-48 win over Juda on Thursday. The win helped Black Hawk (5-2, 2-1) back into a share of the Six Rivers East lead.
"We came out of the gate really well," Black Hawk coach Jerry Mortimer said. "I was impressed with the emotion we came out with. And our defense was really tough initially."
Though the Panthers got on the board first in the game's first few seconds, it was the Warriors who grabbed hold of the momentum.
Black Hawk scored 13 straight points over the next four minutes - Schliem scoring seven of them, including a big 3-pointer.
#Juda got a little bit of help at the end of the frame thanks to baskets by Bryan Bauman and Tyler Pierce (16 points) to trim the lead to 13-9.
In the second quarter, the Warriors took off, led by Michael Place. The senior post player scored a game-high 26 points (seven in the second quarter) and pulled down 10 rebounds.
"Mike deserves all the success he is getting. He is one of the hardest workers, he's in the weight room constantly and he is a true team player," Mortimer said.
By halftime, Black Hawk had built its lead to 30-17.
"In the first half they were up and we weren't," Juda head coach Andy Werner said. "Then we had to scramble and make some things happen. I told the kids I want them to show some fight in the second half."
Pierce scored seven points in the half and Beau Benner, who was held scoreless in the first quarter, finished the second quarter with six of his team-high 20 points.
"Beau Benner is a tough kid to guard - he's got such an arch on his shot it's almost impossible to block," Mortimer said.
In the second half, Schliem continued dishing the ball to wide open teammates - especially Place. The pair combined for 24 points in the second half and grabbed rebounds and steals as if they would spark the nation's economy.
By the end of the third quarter, Black Hawk held a 43-28 lead.
"I give Juda a lot of credit - they don't pack it up," Mortimer said.
Juda didn't let the score - or a couple of questionable calls - get into their heads. The Panthers showed incredible intensity on the defensive end and a never-ending desire on the offensive side of the court to get back into the game.
Black Hawk, which led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, went into "don't lose" mode. With Juda's pressure and will to get back into the game, the on-court action picked up and the Panthers pulled to within 45-36 with 4:04 left to play.
"Juda had some good looks and they could have tightened the game up even more," Mortimer said. "I give Andy's team a lot of credit."
But a series of fouls and a goaltending call took some of the spark out of the comeback and the Warriors pulled away.
"I was happy with the effort at the end, and that's all I can ask for," Werner said.
Juda knows it needs to improve, and Werner thinks his Panthers can.
"We've competed with everyone all year, now it's just a matter of getting over the hump," he said.
Black Hawk has shown a great deal of improvement since a week two loss to Pecatonica at home. However, after not playing a game over the holiday break, the rust still is showing.
"We're still not where I want to be. Maybe the 13 days off was the reason for the way we played against Potosi," Mortimer said.
"At times today we looked like a good basketball team. I think we can make some noise in this conference. We'll know where we stand in about a week and a half. Some teams just hit a certain level and don't get any better. So we'll see."
As for Schliem, a career night all over the floor was just what the doctor ordered.
"I didn't really play very well against Potosi. I really needed this," he said.
Black Hawk shot 52.5 percent from the floor in the game, and was 6-for-12 from the free throw line. Eight different players reached the scorebook.
Juda shot 40.4 percent from the field and was just 2-for-4 from the charity stripe. Only five Panthers scored in the game, with Dylan Bauman adding seven.
