Brodhead - Basketball is supposed to be a fun game. In a season filled with disappointing losses, the Cardinals boys basketball team found a way to put wide grins on everyone's face Tuesday night.
Brodhead knocked off Orfordville Parkview 76-25, but it wasn't just the score that had everyone smiling. J.J. Panoske, a 6-foot-10 senior, scored 40 points in just under three quarters of play and, along with teammate Michael Peterson, had a pair of rim-rocking slam dunks that sent the crowd to their feet.
"You play hard and you get to do some of that stuff," Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer said. "But it's not all about dunking, it's about playing hard. Success will come from that."
A UW-Milwaukee recruit, Panoske scored 12 points in the first quarter, 11 in the second and then had Brodhead's first 16 points in the third quarter before taking a seat for good. But the center wasn't alone in the score book - nine different Cardinals put the ball into the basket.
Trent Jordan, filling in for starter Carson Scheidegger, scored nine points in some of his most rigorous action of the year. Scheidegger sat out the game after being ejected in the Cardinals loss to Wisconsin Dells.
"That's exactly what we needed. I didn't know how Trent would respond in that starting role but I think he did a nice job. He busts his butt and does the little things right," Kammerer said. "I was proud of everybody. Everybody contributed."
After jumping out to a 20-4 lead after the first quarter, Kammerer decided to mix things up on defense, opting to go with a 1-3-1 zone.
"We threw in a new wrinkle tonight and I thought we did a real nice job with it," Kammerer said. "When you get our big guys with long arms out there it's hard to pass through that."
The move paid off.
"We picked up the pace a lot. We came out in that 1-3-1. We got it done defensively and we pushed the ball when we needed to," Panoske said. "I got moved (to the top of the zone) in practice (Monday) and I really like it. A 7-1 wingspan really helps out and takes up a lot of space. Me and Michael are like a bunch of monkey arms - we get big and making sure we're wide enough."
Leading 31-12 with under three minutes to play in the second quarter, Panoske stole the ball and flipped the rock to Peterson who threw down a 2-handed slam.
"I was pumped. I stole that ball and gave it to him. As soon as I gave him the ball I yelled, 'dunk it!'" Panoske said.
Peterson said the slam counted for more than two points on the scoreboard.
"It's nice to finally get that out of the way. Everyone always asks me when I'm going to get that first dunk," Peterson said.
Twice more before the end of the half Panoske got his chance, each time setting the tone for a future wall poster in his dorm room.
"We have dunk contests in practice and we're best friends, so it's nice to give him (Peterson) one to dunk and share the love a little bit," Panoske said.
Kammerer said that the pair of dunks can help his team immensely with just five weeks left in the regular season.
"I think it will change the locker room atmosphere," Kammerer said. "We tell the kids to have fun with basketball - because I know that's been questioned this year. But that's how you have fun."
Brodhead (7-7, 5-4 Rock Valley South) led 45-14 at halftime and 67-21 after three quarters. Parkview (1-11, 0-9) never had the game within reach after the third minute.
The Cardinals now turn their focus to Jefferson (7-6, 6-2 Rock Valley North), who they will play at home on Friday.
Brodhead knocked off Orfordville Parkview 76-25, but it wasn't just the score that had everyone smiling. J.J. Panoske, a 6-foot-10 senior, scored 40 points in just under three quarters of play and, along with teammate Michael Peterson, had a pair of rim-rocking slam dunks that sent the crowd to their feet.
"You play hard and you get to do some of that stuff," Brodhead coach Brian Kammerer said. "But it's not all about dunking, it's about playing hard. Success will come from that."
A UW-Milwaukee recruit, Panoske scored 12 points in the first quarter, 11 in the second and then had Brodhead's first 16 points in the third quarter before taking a seat for good. But the center wasn't alone in the score book - nine different Cardinals put the ball into the basket.
Trent Jordan, filling in for starter Carson Scheidegger, scored nine points in some of his most rigorous action of the year. Scheidegger sat out the game after being ejected in the Cardinals loss to Wisconsin Dells.
"That's exactly what we needed. I didn't know how Trent would respond in that starting role but I think he did a nice job. He busts his butt and does the little things right," Kammerer said. "I was proud of everybody. Everybody contributed."
After jumping out to a 20-4 lead after the first quarter, Kammerer decided to mix things up on defense, opting to go with a 1-3-1 zone.
"We threw in a new wrinkle tonight and I thought we did a real nice job with it," Kammerer said. "When you get our big guys with long arms out there it's hard to pass through that."
The move paid off.
"We picked up the pace a lot. We came out in that 1-3-1. We got it done defensively and we pushed the ball when we needed to," Panoske said. "I got moved (to the top of the zone) in practice (Monday) and I really like it. A 7-1 wingspan really helps out and takes up a lot of space. Me and Michael are like a bunch of monkey arms - we get big and making sure we're wide enough."
Leading 31-12 with under three minutes to play in the second quarter, Panoske stole the ball and flipped the rock to Peterson who threw down a 2-handed slam.
"I was pumped. I stole that ball and gave it to him. As soon as I gave him the ball I yelled, 'dunk it!'" Panoske said.
Peterson said the slam counted for more than two points on the scoreboard.
"It's nice to finally get that out of the way. Everyone always asks me when I'm going to get that first dunk," Peterson said.
Twice more before the end of the half Panoske got his chance, each time setting the tone for a future wall poster in his dorm room.
"We have dunk contests in practice and we're best friends, so it's nice to give him (Peterson) one to dunk and share the love a little bit," Panoske said.
Kammerer said that the pair of dunks can help his team immensely with just five weeks left in the regular season.
"I think it will change the locker room atmosphere," Kammerer said. "We tell the kids to have fun with basketball - because I know that's been questioned this year. But that's how you have fun."
Brodhead (7-7, 5-4 Rock Valley South) led 45-14 at halftime and 67-21 after three quarters. Parkview (1-11, 0-9) never had the game within reach after the third minute.
The Cardinals now turn their focus to Jefferson (7-6, 6-2 Rock Valley North), who they will play at home on Friday.
