DARLINGTON - Senior Will Schwartz scored a game-high 22 points and the Redbirds used a full-court press to roll to a 66-21 win over Belleville on Monday.
Darlington (10-0, 5-0 SWAL), ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Division 4 state poll, remained unbeaten with a dominating performance. The Redbirds jumped out to a 49-16 lead in the first half and limited the Wildcats to just five points in the second half.
"That was the key to the game," Darlington coach Tom Uppena said of the Redbirds' pressure defense. "We got off to a really hot start. Any coach would have been happy with our halfcourt defense in the second half giving up just five points. It was a really good all-around game tonight."
Darlington senior Josh Soper added 13 points and senior Trevor Johnson pitched in 10 points. Schwartz knocked down two of the Redbirds' 3-pointers. Uppena said the team doesn't feel any extra pressure with the No. 2 state ranking.
"It's not something we talk about," he said. "Rankings are rankings. The only thing that matters is what happens at the end of the year. Sometimes games like this are good so we can develop our bench. We are a pretty deep team."
Pecatonica 74, Fennimore 59
FENNIMORE - Pecatonica senior A.J. Hendrickson scored a game-high 32 points to lead the Vikings to a nonconference win over Fennimore on Monday.
Hendrickson scored 27 of his points in the second half. Fennimore used a zone and the Vikings got layups off penetration in the second half. With the win, Pecatonica improves to 11-2, 4-0 Six Rivers East. Pecatonica is in a first-place tie in the conference with Barneveld. The Vikings will play in a conference showdown at Barneveld (9-0, 4-0), which is ranked No. 1 in Division 5, on Thursday.
Fennimore "went to a zone and we spread the floor and did a much better job of attacking the basket in the second half," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said.
Pecatonica led by more than 20 points in the second half. Pecatonica sophomore Colten Schraepfer added 14 points and senior Logan Green had 11 points. Junior teammate Evan Prust chipped in eight points off the bench.
Now, the Vikings will gear up for the showdown with Barneveld.
"We know how good of a team they are," Fink said. "We have done our job going undefeated in the conference and so have they. It will be a battle. We will see who gets the upperhand the first time through the conference."
New Glarus 83, Mineral Point 61
NEW GLARUS - Sophomore Zach Feller scored a game-high 20 points to lead a balanced attack to lead New Glarus to a nonconference win over Mineral Point on Monday.
Feller hit two of the Glarner Knights' six 3-pointers. The Knights had four players reach double figures. In addition to Feller, junior Cullen Brooks and sophomore Jaden Kreklow each scored 16 points. Sophomore teammate Trevor Gassman added 11 points.
New Glarus (7-3, 1-0 Capitol South) jumped out to a 45-25 lead in the first half. New Glarus senior Christian Arnett chipped in six points.
Juda 66, Belmont 28
BELMONT - Juda junior Keagen Haffele scored a game-high 23 points and had five steals to power the Panthers to a rout of Belmont.
Juda senior Joe Rackow added 12 points and senior Skyler Stuckey had 11 points. Senior teammate Matt Schmitt chipped in eight points.
"Keagen had a great second half to extend our half-time lead," Juda coach James Pickett said. "We forced them into 20 turnovers and that led to transition points."
With the win, Juda improves to 7-4, 2-2 Six Rivers East.
Darlington (10-0, 5-0 SWAL), ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Division 4 state poll, remained unbeaten with a dominating performance. The Redbirds jumped out to a 49-16 lead in the first half and limited the Wildcats to just five points in the second half.
"That was the key to the game," Darlington coach Tom Uppena said of the Redbirds' pressure defense. "We got off to a really hot start. Any coach would have been happy with our halfcourt defense in the second half giving up just five points. It was a really good all-around game tonight."
Darlington senior Josh Soper added 13 points and senior Trevor Johnson pitched in 10 points. Schwartz knocked down two of the Redbirds' 3-pointers. Uppena said the team doesn't feel any extra pressure with the No. 2 state ranking.
"It's not something we talk about," he said. "Rankings are rankings. The only thing that matters is what happens at the end of the year. Sometimes games like this are good so we can develop our bench. We are a pretty deep team."
Pecatonica 74, Fennimore 59
FENNIMORE - Pecatonica senior A.J. Hendrickson scored a game-high 32 points to lead the Vikings to a nonconference win over Fennimore on Monday.
Hendrickson scored 27 of his points in the second half. Fennimore used a zone and the Vikings got layups off penetration in the second half. With the win, Pecatonica improves to 11-2, 4-0 Six Rivers East. Pecatonica is in a first-place tie in the conference with Barneveld. The Vikings will play in a conference showdown at Barneveld (9-0, 4-0), which is ranked No. 1 in Division 5, on Thursday.
Fennimore "went to a zone and we spread the floor and did a much better job of attacking the basket in the second half," Pecatonica coach Matt Fink said.
Pecatonica led by more than 20 points in the second half. Pecatonica sophomore Colten Schraepfer added 14 points and senior Logan Green had 11 points. Junior teammate Evan Prust chipped in eight points off the bench.
Now, the Vikings will gear up for the showdown with Barneveld.
"We know how good of a team they are," Fink said. "We have done our job going undefeated in the conference and so have they. It will be a battle. We will see who gets the upperhand the first time through the conference."
New Glarus 83, Mineral Point 61
NEW GLARUS - Sophomore Zach Feller scored a game-high 20 points to lead a balanced attack to lead New Glarus to a nonconference win over Mineral Point on Monday.
Feller hit two of the Glarner Knights' six 3-pointers. The Knights had four players reach double figures. In addition to Feller, junior Cullen Brooks and sophomore Jaden Kreklow each scored 16 points. Sophomore teammate Trevor Gassman added 11 points.
New Glarus (7-3, 1-0 Capitol South) jumped out to a 45-25 lead in the first half. New Glarus senior Christian Arnett chipped in six points.
Juda 66, Belmont 28
BELMONT - Juda junior Keagen Haffele scored a game-high 23 points and had five steals to power the Panthers to a rout of Belmont.
Juda senior Joe Rackow added 12 points and senior Skyler Stuckey had 11 points. Senior teammate Matt Schmitt chipped in eight points.
"Keagen had a great second half to extend our half-time lead," Juda coach James Pickett said. "We forced them into 20 turnovers and that led to transition points."
With the win, Juda improves to 7-4, 2-2 Six Rivers East.
