DARLINGTON - Alex Erickson didn't chomp down on turkey, mash potatoes or desserts over the holiday break. Instead, he spent the last few weeks chugging kryptonite.
The Redbirds senior guard dropped 30 points on Pecatonica in Tuesday's 48-35 victory, scoring 23 points in the second half alone.
"The biggest difference in the game was Alex Erickson," Vikings head coach Jim Syse said. "In the third quarter he found his rhythm in the third quarter and we just couldn't stop him. He was the difference maker. That's all."
The first half looked as if each team had spent too much time away from the gym over the break. Four minutes into the game, Darlington was stuck holding a 4-2 lead before extending it to an 8-3 lead with time winding down in the opening period.
By the end of the opening frame, the Redbirds led 12-8. The Vikings were hurting themselves on the defensive end of the court, collecting nine fouls.
In the second quarter Darlington took advantage of the bonus, getting to the line 10 times. However, the Redbirds could only knock down six free-bee's and failed to hit a single shot from the field all quarter.
Pecatonica on the other hand, struggled from the floor themselves and the two teams went into halftime Darlington still up a pair at 18-16.
"I told the guys that we can't change the results of the first half, but we can change how we approach the second half," Redbirds head coach Mike Hopkins said. "We have to start out 0-0 and our shooters have got to keep shooting."
Despite such poor shooting in the first half, each team initially looked somewhat charged up to start the third quarter.
"We had 15 fouls in the first half. We came out in zone - which we probably shouldn't have done - in the second half because we didn't want to get into any more foul trouble. That allowed them to get some open jump shots," Syse said.
Erickson led off the second half with a thundering 3-pointer - the first shot made from beyond the arc by either team all game. Erickson then took a steal coast to coast and followed up with a lay up in transition moments late. Tucker Wiegel then hit a pull-up 3-pointer from the top of the key and Pecatonica was forced to call a timeout after the 10-0 Redbird run to start the second half.
"Alex hit that big three for us and the other guys started to follow suit. Our defense was better, too. We got some good rebounds that went to quick outlet passes. That led to some fast breaks," Hopkins said.
The Vikings finally got on the board just under three minutes into the half, with Jeremy Meudt hitting a 3-ball from the left corner. Pecatonica's leading scorer, Caleb Feller, hit a 3-pointer of his own a short while later to pull the score back to within six points at 28-22. Feller would hit one more 3-pointer in the period, but the Redbirds dominated from there, leading 40-25 headed into the fourth.
"Our defense and rebounding in the second half I thought was the big difference," Hopkins said. "Jason Boll set the tone in the first half by taking two charges and added a third in the second. I told the guys at halftime that they have to step up like Jason."
Erickson scored 17 points in the third quarter - none of which coming from the charity stripe.
Pecatonica did all they could in the final frame, but after few missed shots intertwined with a few buckets, Pecatonica could only close the deficit to 44-33.
Feller led the Vikings with 12 points in the game before fouling out late. Milton Kurschner got early penetration, but with Feller in foul trouble all game could not carry Pecatonica offensively the entire game. The senior guard finished with 11 points.
The Redbirds senior guard dropped 30 points on Pecatonica in Tuesday's 48-35 victory, scoring 23 points in the second half alone.
"The biggest difference in the game was Alex Erickson," Vikings head coach Jim Syse said. "In the third quarter he found his rhythm in the third quarter and we just couldn't stop him. He was the difference maker. That's all."
The first half looked as if each team had spent too much time away from the gym over the break. Four minutes into the game, Darlington was stuck holding a 4-2 lead before extending it to an 8-3 lead with time winding down in the opening period.
By the end of the opening frame, the Redbirds led 12-8. The Vikings were hurting themselves on the defensive end of the court, collecting nine fouls.
In the second quarter Darlington took advantage of the bonus, getting to the line 10 times. However, the Redbirds could only knock down six free-bee's and failed to hit a single shot from the field all quarter.
Pecatonica on the other hand, struggled from the floor themselves and the two teams went into halftime Darlington still up a pair at 18-16.
"I told the guys that we can't change the results of the first half, but we can change how we approach the second half," Redbirds head coach Mike Hopkins said. "We have to start out 0-0 and our shooters have got to keep shooting."
Despite such poor shooting in the first half, each team initially looked somewhat charged up to start the third quarter.
"We had 15 fouls in the first half. We came out in zone - which we probably shouldn't have done - in the second half because we didn't want to get into any more foul trouble. That allowed them to get some open jump shots," Syse said.
Erickson led off the second half with a thundering 3-pointer - the first shot made from beyond the arc by either team all game. Erickson then took a steal coast to coast and followed up with a lay up in transition moments late. Tucker Wiegel then hit a pull-up 3-pointer from the top of the key and Pecatonica was forced to call a timeout after the 10-0 Redbird run to start the second half.
"Alex hit that big three for us and the other guys started to follow suit. Our defense was better, too. We got some good rebounds that went to quick outlet passes. That led to some fast breaks," Hopkins said.
The Vikings finally got on the board just under three minutes into the half, with Jeremy Meudt hitting a 3-ball from the left corner. Pecatonica's leading scorer, Caleb Feller, hit a 3-pointer of his own a short while later to pull the score back to within six points at 28-22. Feller would hit one more 3-pointer in the period, but the Redbirds dominated from there, leading 40-25 headed into the fourth.
"Our defense and rebounding in the second half I thought was the big difference," Hopkins said. "Jason Boll set the tone in the first half by taking two charges and added a third in the second. I told the guys at halftime that they have to step up like Jason."
Erickson scored 17 points in the third quarter - none of which coming from the charity stripe.
Pecatonica did all they could in the final frame, but after few missed shots intertwined with a few buckets, Pecatonica could only close the deficit to 44-33.
Feller led the Vikings with 12 points in the game before fouling out late. Milton Kurschner got early penetration, but with Feller in foul trouble all game could not carry Pecatonica offensively the entire game. The senior guard finished with 11 points.
