DARLINGTON - The first time the Darlington High School boys basketball team played Cuba City this season it had not even had a full week of practices or full game plan installed for the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League game, and the Cubans knocked off the Redbirds.
The Redbirds proved they will be a postseason threat Friday after four players reached double figures and they rolled to a 69-45 win over the Cubans in the rematch.
"I don't know if I would call it a must-win game, but it was an important game," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said.
"It was a statement game. Our guys knew in our game earlier in the year we had a lot of rust. They didn't have their basketball legs. We knew we were at a disadvantage in the first game. The bigger thing for the season now is we have one game on Cuba City in the loss column and that will be big for seeding."
Darlington (11-3, 6-2 SWAL) still trails Iowa-Grant (12-1, 7-0) in the race for the conference championship.
Darlington junior Chad Golackson scored 18 points to power the Redbirds. Junior Ryan Glendenning added 17 points , and junior Trevor Johnson had 13 points. Junior Will Schwartz chipped in 10 points.
"Trevor Johnson has really been playing well the last few games," Hopkins said. "Trevor is really coming on. If we can get that fourth scorer we will be tough to beat."
Parkview 62, Brodhead 55
BRODHEAD - The Cardinals let an 11-point halftime lead slip away in a loss to the Vikings.
Justice Tway scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half to help Brodhead build a 31-20 advantage but then Hunter Case took over for Parkview.
Case scored 21 of his game-high 27 points, including five of his six 3-pointers, in the second half as Parkview outscored Brodhead 42-24.
The Vikings hit 10 3-pointers in the game, and the Cardinals made nine.
Tyler Flannery added 11 points for Brodhead, and Parker Johnson had nine.
Black Hawk 73, Monticello 17
SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Chase Stietz hit three 3-pointers and scored a game-high 13 points to help the Warriors cruise past Monticello.
Black Hawk (6-7, 3-4 Six Rivers East) hit nine 3-pointers as a team and led 47-10 at the half. The Warriors used a press early on to set the tone.
"We really like to get it inside to the post," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "When we go inside out, those 3-pointers start to fall. Our press worked very well. We really played aggressive and confident."
Black Hawk sophomore C.J. Leuzinger scored 12 points and drilled two 3-pointers, and freshman Conner Meyer and sophomore Jett Rufenacht each added 12 points. Sophomore teammate Jason Treuthardt chipped in eight points and hit two 3-pointers, and junior Josh Meier added eight points.
Monticello sophomore Jon Errthum scored a team-high seven points to lead the Ponies.
Albany 61, Juda 44
ALBANY - Tyler Dahl powered the Comets to a big lead in the first half and then Brock Gilkes made sure they kept it in the second half of a victory over the Panthers.
Dahl scored 16 of his 24 points in the first half to help Albany (8-5, 4-3 Six Rivers East) gain a 32-17 advantage.
"We came out in a little half-court trap to force tempo, and we got some turnovers and transition points off it, which got Tyler going," Albany coach Derik Doescher said.
Gilkes scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, including all three of his 3-pointers.
"Every time Juda made a run, Gilkes hit a 3," Doescher said.
Cole Fortney and Joe Rackow led Juda with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
In other action, Barneveld defeated Argyle 65-50, and Pecatonica defeated River Ridge 66-22.
The Redbirds proved they will be a postseason threat Friday after four players reached double figures and they rolled to a 69-45 win over the Cubans in the rematch.
"I don't know if I would call it a must-win game, but it was an important game," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said.
"It was a statement game. Our guys knew in our game earlier in the year we had a lot of rust. They didn't have their basketball legs. We knew we were at a disadvantage in the first game. The bigger thing for the season now is we have one game on Cuba City in the loss column and that will be big for seeding."
Darlington (11-3, 6-2 SWAL) still trails Iowa-Grant (12-1, 7-0) in the race for the conference championship.
Darlington junior Chad Golackson scored 18 points to power the Redbirds. Junior Ryan Glendenning added 17 points , and junior Trevor Johnson had 13 points. Junior Will Schwartz chipped in 10 points.
"Trevor Johnson has really been playing well the last few games," Hopkins said. "Trevor is really coming on. If we can get that fourth scorer we will be tough to beat."
Parkview 62, Brodhead 55
BRODHEAD - The Cardinals let an 11-point halftime lead slip away in a loss to the Vikings.
Justice Tway scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half to help Brodhead build a 31-20 advantage but then Hunter Case took over for Parkview.
Case scored 21 of his game-high 27 points, including five of his six 3-pointers, in the second half as Parkview outscored Brodhead 42-24.
The Vikings hit 10 3-pointers in the game, and the Cardinals made nine.
Tyler Flannery added 11 points for Brodhead, and Parker Johnson had nine.
Black Hawk 73, Monticello 17
SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Chase Stietz hit three 3-pointers and scored a game-high 13 points to help the Warriors cruise past Monticello.
Black Hawk (6-7, 3-4 Six Rivers East) hit nine 3-pointers as a team and led 47-10 at the half. The Warriors used a press early on to set the tone.
"We really like to get it inside to the post," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "When we go inside out, those 3-pointers start to fall. Our press worked very well. We really played aggressive and confident."
Black Hawk sophomore C.J. Leuzinger scored 12 points and drilled two 3-pointers, and freshman Conner Meyer and sophomore Jett Rufenacht each added 12 points. Sophomore teammate Jason Treuthardt chipped in eight points and hit two 3-pointers, and junior Josh Meier added eight points.
Monticello sophomore Jon Errthum scored a team-high seven points to lead the Ponies.
Albany 61, Juda 44
ALBANY - Tyler Dahl powered the Comets to a big lead in the first half and then Brock Gilkes made sure they kept it in the second half of a victory over the Panthers.
Dahl scored 16 of his 24 points in the first half to help Albany (8-5, 4-3 Six Rivers East) gain a 32-17 advantage.
"We came out in a little half-court trap to force tempo, and we got some turnovers and transition points off it, which got Tyler going," Albany coach Derik Doescher said.
Gilkes scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, including all three of his 3-pointers.
"Every time Juda made a run, Gilkes hit a 3," Doescher said.
Cole Fortney and Joe Rackow led Juda with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
In other action, Barneveld defeated Argyle 65-50, and Pecatonica defeated River Ridge 66-22.
