SOUTH WAYNE - Traditionally, the Pecatonica-Black Hawk rivalry gives the crowd a physical and up-tempo brand of basketball. The first of two matchups this year was no different.
Round one of the pushing and shoving down in the paint went to Pecatonica, 42-29, Thursday. The Warriors struggled with their shot and Pecatonica's swing-offense worked to delight for 20 of the game's 32 minutes.
"Anytime we beat Black Hawk, we love it because it is a rivalry," Vikings head coach Jim Syse said. "Whether it was 13 points or one point, I don't care as long as we beat them."
Both teams kept pace for the first two minutes of the game, sitting tied at 5-5. Pecatonica then went on a 12-2 run for a 17-7 lead headed into the second.
Kaleb Feller scored 9 of his 16 points in the first quarter.
"I switched Payton Schliem over to guard Kaleb (Feller)," Black Hawk head coach Jerry Mortimer said.
"T.J. (Adams) was having a little trouble guarding Feller. But this is kind of T.J.'s first time through the (Six Rivers East Conference), and he's feeling his way around. But I thought Payton did a really nice job on defense against (Feller)."
The Vikings started the second quarter with a bang - junior Jeremy Meudt hit a wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner just 20 seconds in.
From there, Pecatonica's shooting went colder than the Arctic in an ice age.
The Warriors' defense stepped up its game and held the Vikings scoreless throughout the rest of the half and for much of the third quarter. In all, Pecatonica went 11 minutes, 56 seconds without a point.
"We kind of got away from what we were doing in the first quarter," Syse said. "But I have to give credit to our defense. Even though we weren't scoring, they hung in there and got enough rebounds to keep the game close before we could start hitting some shots."
Meanwhile, the Warriors crept their way back into the game. By halftime, Michael Place had helped bring Black Hawk to within 20-18.
With 4:20 left in the third, Black Hawk took the lead when Shane Jackson hit a shot in the paint.
The Vikings' first point of the half, a Feller free throw with 3:44 to play in the third, got the team rolling again.
In the final three minutes of the third quarter, the Vikings reeled off 9 points and finished the period with a 30-25 lead.
From there, Black Hawk's offense fell flat and Pecatonica continued to roll.
"We weren't playing good defense early on. We weren't getting our hands up on shooters," Mortimer said.
"And if it takes three shots to score, it's going to be tough. We just did not get it done in the second half."
Mortimer talked to his team after the game about the need to work on fundamentals. Though the Warriors struggled shooting, it was the little things like passing and traveling calls that appeared to make a big difference on the court.
"We talked to the guys in the locker room about how the little things make a big difference. We got by with it for the first two games. And I can live with it the first game. But now tonight the little things caught up to us when the offense was struggling," Mortimer said.
"The hard thing is that when you turn the ball over, that's a lost possession. There's no points. Little things add up to big things."
Place, still bruised and battered from football, recorded a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) and kept numerous Black Hawk possessions alive for a second chance at a basket.
"Mike's a hard worker and takes his pride in being a hard worker," Mortimer said. "But he's still not 100 percent. He's still struggling a little bit with his injury from football that he got in the last game. We just need some other guys to step up."
For the Vikings, the win signified something greater than just a rivalry win.
"Tonight was more of a team-game. We found the open player. And the young players coming up from JV last year are starting to play well with the veterans," Syse said.
Other than Feller's game-high 16, Meudt scored 12 points for the Vikings and teammate Devin Jeglum scored seven.
Seven Warriors scored in the game, but only Place and Adams scored at least five points.
Black Hawk (2-1, 0-1 Six Rivers East) hosts Argyle next Tuesday, Dec. 16, while Pecatonica (2-2, 1-1) will host Barneveld the same night.
Round one of the pushing and shoving down in the paint went to Pecatonica, 42-29, Thursday. The Warriors struggled with their shot and Pecatonica's swing-offense worked to delight for 20 of the game's 32 minutes.
"Anytime we beat Black Hawk, we love it because it is a rivalry," Vikings head coach Jim Syse said. "Whether it was 13 points or one point, I don't care as long as we beat them."
Both teams kept pace for the first two minutes of the game, sitting tied at 5-5. Pecatonica then went on a 12-2 run for a 17-7 lead headed into the second.
Kaleb Feller scored 9 of his 16 points in the first quarter.
"I switched Payton Schliem over to guard Kaleb (Feller)," Black Hawk head coach Jerry Mortimer said.
"T.J. (Adams) was having a little trouble guarding Feller. But this is kind of T.J.'s first time through the (Six Rivers East Conference), and he's feeling his way around. But I thought Payton did a really nice job on defense against (Feller)."
The Vikings started the second quarter with a bang - junior Jeremy Meudt hit a wide-open 3-pointer from the left corner just 20 seconds in.
From there, Pecatonica's shooting went colder than the Arctic in an ice age.
The Warriors' defense stepped up its game and held the Vikings scoreless throughout the rest of the half and for much of the third quarter. In all, Pecatonica went 11 minutes, 56 seconds without a point.
"We kind of got away from what we were doing in the first quarter," Syse said. "But I have to give credit to our defense. Even though we weren't scoring, they hung in there and got enough rebounds to keep the game close before we could start hitting some shots."
Meanwhile, the Warriors crept their way back into the game. By halftime, Michael Place had helped bring Black Hawk to within 20-18.
With 4:20 left in the third, Black Hawk took the lead when Shane Jackson hit a shot in the paint.
The Vikings' first point of the half, a Feller free throw with 3:44 to play in the third, got the team rolling again.
In the final three minutes of the third quarter, the Vikings reeled off 9 points and finished the period with a 30-25 lead.
From there, Black Hawk's offense fell flat and Pecatonica continued to roll.
"We weren't playing good defense early on. We weren't getting our hands up on shooters," Mortimer said.
"And if it takes three shots to score, it's going to be tough. We just did not get it done in the second half."
Mortimer talked to his team after the game about the need to work on fundamentals. Though the Warriors struggled shooting, it was the little things like passing and traveling calls that appeared to make a big difference on the court.
"We talked to the guys in the locker room about how the little things make a big difference. We got by with it for the first two games. And I can live with it the first game. But now tonight the little things caught up to us when the offense was struggling," Mortimer said.
"The hard thing is that when you turn the ball over, that's a lost possession. There's no points. Little things add up to big things."
Place, still bruised and battered from football, recorded a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) and kept numerous Black Hawk possessions alive for a second chance at a basket.
"Mike's a hard worker and takes his pride in being a hard worker," Mortimer said. "But he's still not 100 percent. He's still struggling a little bit with his injury from football that he got in the last game. We just need some other guys to step up."
For the Vikings, the win signified something greater than just a rivalry win.
"Tonight was more of a team-game. We found the open player. And the young players coming up from JV last year are starting to play well with the veterans," Syse said.
Other than Feller's game-high 16, Meudt scored 12 points for the Vikings and teammate Devin Jeglum scored seven.
Seven Warriors scored in the game, but only Place and Adams scored at least five points.
Black Hawk (2-1, 0-1 Six Rivers East) hosts Argyle next Tuesday, Dec. 16, while Pecatonica (2-2, 1-1) will host Barneveld the same night.
