ALBANY - Sharpshooting Albany senior Isaiah Shell wasn't going to be denied.
Shell scored a game-high 24 points and hit a game-winning jumper with 3.8 seconds to go to propel the Comets to a 50-49 win over Barneveld Saturday, Feb. 15. With the win, Albany (14-6, 8-2 Six Rivers East) has a one-game lead on Black Hawk (15-5, 7-3) and a 1.5-game lead on Barneveld (13-6, 6-3) in the conference.
"It's huge," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We haven't played in meaningful games like that. He took over and did what four-year starters do down the stretch. He did it against a very good Barneveld team."
The Comets erased a four-point deficit in the final 18 seconds. Shell drilled a 3-pointer and then hit the game-winning jumper.
Albany sophomore Tyler Dahl and senior Mitchell Kauk each added eight points.
"Tyler is really stepping up into a point guard and becoming a weapon," Doescher said. "In past years we have had just Isaiah, but now we have Tyler and Mitchell Kauk who can step up and take pressure off Isaiah."
Barneveld's Matthew Myers led the Eagles with a team-high 16 points and three 3-pointers.
"We played man-to-man most of the game," Doescher said. "I was very happy with our defense. We were really scrapping."
Albany will host Black Hawk in a conference showdown Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Southwestern 64, Darlington 52
HAZEL GREEN - Darlington's Ben Muhlstein scored a game-high 21 points, but the Redbirds couldn't overcome a hot start by the Wildcats Saturday.
Southwestern jumped out to a 17-11 lead in the first quarter and led by nine points at the half. Southwestern's Carter Flegge scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Wildcats.
Darlington (10-9, 7-5 SWAL) were 14 of 19 at the free throw line and the Wildcats were 16 of 24. Darlington senior Cade Hardyman added seven points and made two 3-pointers.
Warren 55, Argyle 39
ARGYLE - Warren seized control of a non-conference game with a big second half to roll past Argyle 55-39 Saturday.
Argyle led 22-20 at the half, but couldn't maintain the momentum. Warren outscored the Orioles 35-17 in the second half to seal the win.
Argyle sophomore Riley Ostby scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Orioles. Argyle's Kyle Emberson added 10 points.
With the loss, Argyle drops to 7-13, 2-7 Six Rivers East.
Shell scored a game-high 24 points and hit a game-winning jumper with 3.8 seconds to go to propel the Comets to a 50-49 win over Barneveld Saturday, Feb. 15. With the win, Albany (14-6, 8-2 Six Rivers East) has a one-game lead on Black Hawk (15-5, 7-3) and a 1.5-game lead on Barneveld (13-6, 6-3) in the conference.
"It's huge," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We haven't played in meaningful games like that. He took over and did what four-year starters do down the stretch. He did it against a very good Barneveld team."
The Comets erased a four-point deficit in the final 18 seconds. Shell drilled a 3-pointer and then hit the game-winning jumper.
Albany sophomore Tyler Dahl and senior Mitchell Kauk each added eight points.
"Tyler is really stepping up into a point guard and becoming a weapon," Doescher said. "In past years we have had just Isaiah, but now we have Tyler and Mitchell Kauk who can step up and take pressure off Isaiah."
Barneveld's Matthew Myers led the Eagles with a team-high 16 points and three 3-pointers.
"We played man-to-man most of the game," Doescher said. "I was very happy with our defense. We were really scrapping."
Albany will host Black Hawk in a conference showdown Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Southwestern 64, Darlington 52
HAZEL GREEN - Darlington's Ben Muhlstein scored a game-high 21 points, but the Redbirds couldn't overcome a hot start by the Wildcats Saturday.
Southwestern jumped out to a 17-11 lead in the first quarter and led by nine points at the half. Southwestern's Carter Flegge scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Wildcats.
Darlington (10-9, 7-5 SWAL) were 14 of 19 at the free throw line and the Wildcats were 16 of 24. Darlington senior Cade Hardyman added seven points and made two 3-pointers.
Warren 55, Argyle 39
ARGYLE - Warren seized control of a non-conference game with a big second half to roll past Argyle 55-39 Saturday.
Argyle led 22-20 at the half, but couldn't maintain the momentum. Warren outscored the Orioles 35-17 in the second half to seal the win.
Argyle sophomore Riley Ostby scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Orioles. Argyle's Kyle Emberson added 10 points.
With the loss, Argyle drops to 7-13, 2-7 Six Rivers East.
