DARLINGTON - Redbirds coach Mike Hopkins made an adjustment against New Glarus' press and Darlington rolled to a 62-34 win over the Glarner Knights Saturday, Jan. 18.
Both teams got off to slow starts in the first quarter as the Redbirds led just 7-6.
"We had some difficulty with their press and halfcourt traps," Hopkins said. "We finally got people in the right position. We had to keep the ball in the middle of the floor where it wasn't as easy to trap."
The Redbirds outscored the Knights 19-7 in the second quarter to build a 13-point lead at the half. It's a hole the Knights were never able to overcome as the Redbirds outscored them 36-21 in the second half.
Darlington senior Cade Hardyman scored a game-high 24 points and junior Cole McDonald chipped in eight points. With the win, Darlington improves to 6-4, 3-1 SWAL.
"We have been struggling with our shooting," Hopkins said. "It was good to get a game like this and we can get some momentum."
New Glarus coach Travis Sysko was surprised the Knights didn't make a run.
"We are all disappointed with the loss," Sysko said. "It should have been a much better game."
Both teams are in the same sectional so there was added incentive.
"We are in the same sectional," Sysko said. "It will improve their seeding at the meeting. It will help Darlington's cause. We had some breakdowns defensively and that is a credit to them."
Hardyman made 8 of 12 shots and hit 7 of 8 free throws.
"He (Hardyman) was pretty efficient," Hopkins said. "It was his best shooting game this year."
The Redbirds used a 1-3-1 halfcourt trap with some success to bottle up the Knights. New Glarus sophomore Gavin Binger scored a team-high 11 points and senior Caleb Fredrickson added seven points.
"We struggled offensively," Sysko said. "We knew they would do some of that (1-3-1). We had a good week of practice. I thought we were ready for it, but we obviously weren't."
There was a big edge on the free throw line for the Redbirds, who shot 37 from the foul line compared to 15 for the Knights.
The Redbirds were 21 of 37 from the free throw line and the Knights were 8 of 15.
Both teams got off to slow starts in the first quarter as the Redbirds led just 7-6.
"We had some difficulty with their press and halfcourt traps," Hopkins said. "We finally got people in the right position. We had to keep the ball in the middle of the floor where it wasn't as easy to trap."
The Redbirds outscored the Knights 19-7 in the second quarter to build a 13-point lead at the half. It's a hole the Knights were never able to overcome as the Redbirds outscored them 36-21 in the second half.
Darlington senior Cade Hardyman scored a game-high 24 points and junior Cole McDonald chipped in eight points. With the win, Darlington improves to 6-4, 3-1 SWAL.
"We have been struggling with our shooting," Hopkins said. "It was good to get a game like this and we can get some momentum."
New Glarus coach Travis Sysko was surprised the Knights didn't make a run.
"We are all disappointed with the loss," Sysko said. "It should have been a much better game."
Both teams are in the same sectional so there was added incentive.
"We are in the same sectional," Sysko said. "It will improve their seeding at the meeting. It will help Darlington's cause. We had some breakdowns defensively and that is a credit to them."
Hardyman made 8 of 12 shots and hit 7 of 8 free throws.
"He (Hardyman) was pretty efficient," Hopkins said. "It was his best shooting game this year."
The Redbirds used a 1-3-1 halfcourt trap with some success to bottle up the Knights. New Glarus sophomore Gavin Binger scored a team-high 11 points and senior Caleb Fredrickson added seven points.
"We struggled offensively," Sysko said. "We knew they would do some of that (1-3-1). We had a good week of practice. I thought we were ready for it, but we obviously weren't."
There was a big edge on the free throw line for the Redbirds, who shot 37 from the foul line compared to 15 for the Knights.
The Redbirds were 21 of 37 from the free throw line and the Knights were 8 of 15.
