PLATTEVILLE - Sophomore Chad Golackson gave the Redbirds a lift off the bench as Darlington rolled to a 54-37 non-conference win over Platteville Monday.
Golackson scored 12 points and hit a big 3-pointer in the first quarter to help the Redbirds overcome a 10-point deficit. Platteville jumped out to a 12-2 lead behind a 1-2-2 zone that tried to bottle up the Redbirds inside. Golackson and senior Cole McDonald helped the Redbirds close the first quarter on a 6-0 spurt as each hit 3-pointers.
"I let them play through it," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said of the slow start. "I didn't want them to panic. Cole McDonald and Chad Golackson both hit 3-pointers and that got the lid off the basket."
Darlington (11-0, 4-0 SWAL) outscored the Hillmen 17-7 in the second quarter to take a six-point lead at the half.
Darlington will play No. 3 ranked Mineral Point Thursday on the road.
"It will be a battle between two good teams," Hopkins said. "We will go up there and compete. I will not make it bigger than it is. It will not make or break us. Regardless of what happens we still have them in our place."
Juda 37, Durand 35
DURAND, Ill. - The Juda boys basketball team made free throws when it mattered most to pull out a hard-fought 37-35 win over Durand Monday.
Juda sophomore Matt Schmitt made two free throws with 13 seconds left to seal the win for the Panthers. Juda senior Cory Segner made 4 of 5 free throws in the final minute to also help the Panthers escape with the win.
Schmitt scored a team-high 15 points and Segner added 14 points.
"It was kind of ugly both ways," Juda coach James Pickett said. "Both teams didn't shoot well. It was a defensive struggle."
Pickett was proud that the Panthers found a way to win.
"We didn't hang our heads," he said. "We kept fighting and chugging away."
Juda (4-8, 1-3 Six Rivers East) will host Argyle Thursday.
Black Hawk 60, Potosi 51
SOUTH WAYNE - The Black Hawk senior duo of Heath Butler and Troy Wellnitz combined to score 47 points to power the Warriors to a 60-51 win over Potosi Monday.
Butler scored a game-high 31 points and Wellnitz added 16 points.
"It's nice to see him (Wellnitz) come back and have a nice game," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "He's one of our best free-throw shooters. In the fourth quarter, I trust that kid to handle the pressure and make free throws."
Black Hawk (6-4, 4-0 Six Rivers East) led just 27-21 at the half. The Warriors outscored the Chieftains 15-9 in the third quarter to take a double-digit lead.
"The key in the third quarter is we finally hit some shots," Anderson said. "That propelled us to a good start to the second half."
Golackson scored 12 points and hit a big 3-pointer in the first quarter to help the Redbirds overcome a 10-point deficit. Platteville jumped out to a 12-2 lead behind a 1-2-2 zone that tried to bottle up the Redbirds inside. Golackson and senior Cole McDonald helped the Redbirds close the first quarter on a 6-0 spurt as each hit 3-pointers.
"I let them play through it," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said of the slow start. "I didn't want them to panic. Cole McDonald and Chad Golackson both hit 3-pointers and that got the lid off the basket."
Darlington (11-0, 4-0 SWAL) outscored the Hillmen 17-7 in the second quarter to take a six-point lead at the half.
Darlington will play No. 3 ranked Mineral Point Thursday on the road.
"It will be a battle between two good teams," Hopkins said. "We will go up there and compete. I will not make it bigger than it is. It will not make or break us. Regardless of what happens we still have them in our place."
Juda 37, Durand 35
DURAND, Ill. - The Juda boys basketball team made free throws when it mattered most to pull out a hard-fought 37-35 win over Durand Monday.
Juda sophomore Matt Schmitt made two free throws with 13 seconds left to seal the win for the Panthers. Juda senior Cory Segner made 4 of 5 free throws in the final minute to also help the Panthers escape with the win.
Schmitt scored a team-high 15 points and Segner added 14 points.
"It was kind of ugly both ways," Juda coach James Pickett said. "Both teams didn't shoot well. It was a defensive struggle."
Pickett was proud that the Panthers found a way to win.
"We didn't hang our heads," he said. "We kept fighting and chugging away."
Juda (4-8, 1-3 Six Rivers East) will host Argyle Thursday.
Black Hawk 60, Potosi 51
SOUTH WAYNE - The Black Hawk senior duo of Heath Butler and Troy Wellnitz combined to score 47 points to power the Warriors to a 60-51 win over Potosi Monday.
Butler scored a game-high 31 points and Wellnitz added 16 points.
"It's nice to see him (Wellnitz) come back and have a nice game," Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson said. "He's one of our best free-throw shooters. In the fourth quarter, I trust that kid to handle the pressure and make free throws."
Black Hawk (6-4, 4-0 Six Rivers East) led just 27-21 at the half. The Warriors outscored the Chieftains 15-9 in the third quarter to take a double-digit lead.
"The key in the third quarter is we finally hit some shots," Anderson said. "That propelled us to a good start to the second half."
