After loss to Whitehall, B-T beats Augusta, C-FC
The Blair-Taylor boys basketball team couldn’t keep a hot streak going early in the week, but they rebounded with two wins.
A handful of early three pointers gave B-T a double-digit lead against the Dairyland Conference’s top team, Whitehall, last week Tuesday, but the Norse surged back and won, 68-55, (see story elsewhere in Sports). But the Wildcats rebounded with wins over Augusta and Cochrane-Fountain City on Thursday and Friday.
With just one regular season game remaining, the Wildcats sit at 13-10 overall and 8-6 in Dairyland Conference play, behind only Melrose-Mindoro (12-1) and Whitehall (13-0). B-T closes out the regular season with a game at Augusta on Thursday.
B-T was moved up from Division Five to Division Four in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament and was awarded the ninth seed, meaning they’ll play at (8) Colfax this coming Tuesday. The winner of that game will play at (1) Fall Creek next Friday with the regional final set for Saturday.
B-T 72 Augusta 57
The Wildcats exploded in the second half, turning a tie game into a double-digit win.
B-T took the lead for the first time in the game five minutes into the second half as they went ahead 33-32. They built the lead up to 12 points with six minutes left before the Beavers cut into it with a few three pointers.
Leading 59-56 with three minutes left, B-T coach Randy Storlie said his team regained their composure and finished the game with a 13-1 run.
“The guys really played well down the stretch on both ends of the floor,” Storlie said. “This was a true team effort and I am so proud of the guys and how they hung together to get the win.”
Evan Nehring led B-T with 27 points and 12 rebounds – his 15th double-double of the season. Ethan Kniseley scored 17 points while Tavian Shramek and Jaren Swanson both finished with eight; Michael Waldera, six; Gabe Armitage and Matthew Nehring, three.
B-T 64 C-FC 58
Ball security and free throws helped the Wildcats close out the win.
The game was close as B-T led 34-30 at halftime before building up a 10-point lead, but C-FC fought back with a couple of deep three pointers to pull within three.
Storlie said his team controlled the ball and made enough free throws to hold on for the win.
“This was a very well-played high school basketball game,” Storlie said. “I am very proud of the boys and how they handled the pressure in the final two minutes. We stepped it up defensively and also handled the full court pressure, this was a good win for the guys.”
Nehring led the team in scoring again, finishing with 25 while grabbing eight rebounds. Kniseley added nine points, both Waldera and Swanson scored eight; Armitage, seven and Matthew Nehring chipped in with two.
