B-T rebounds from upset loss with lopsided wins

After suffering a surprising loss to begin the week, the Blair-Taylor boys basketball team started fast in a pair of dominant wins.

The Wildcats came into the week in position to tie Alma Center Lincoln for second in the Dairyland Conference Small Division, but a loss to one of the last-place teams in the division — Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran — set the team back.

B-T rebounded with two of its best overall performances of the season, beating Eleva-Strum, 75-28, on Thursday then besting Melrose-Mindoro, 74-49, on Saturday.

The Wildcats sat at 14-5 overall and 11-4 in DC play, behind AC Lincoln’s 13-3 mark before the teams played at Lincoln on Tuesday of this week. B-T heads to ECIL looking for revenge on Friday. The Wildcats hit the road again next week, playing in Augusta on Thursday. 

ECI 62 Blair-Taylor 59

It was too little too late for the Wildcats as a comeback attempt fell short.

B-T had a lead at halftime and was ahead midway through the second half, but ECI went on an 18-2 run to go ahead by 10 with four minutes left in the game.

The Wildcats cut the lead to one with 15 seconds remaining, but ECI made two free throws and a B-T shot at the buzzer was blocked.

“They played well and we didn’t answer the bell until it was too late. We had the last run, but not enough time left to finish it,” B-T coach Randy Storlie said. 

Ethan Kniseley scored a team-high 20 points for B-T. ECI’s Logan Thompson led all scorers with 23.

B-T also got 17 from Hunter Wagner and 12 from CJ Dummer.

B-T (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-points) — Kniseley 8/22-2/5-4-20 Shramek 2/6-0/0-5-4 Dummer 5/16-2/2-4-12 Wagner 5/12-4/4-9-17 Oldendorf 3/8-0/0-9-6 

B-T 75 Eleva-Strum 28

The Wildcats were in control throughout the game, shutting down the Cardinals while scoring 47 points in the first half.

B-T took a 32-point lead into halftime and cruised in the second half. 

“Our defense was very good tonight,” Storlie said. “We came into the game ready to play and things went well for us.  It was a true team effort with all 12 guys playing hard defense and sharing the ball on offense.  Every kid on the team had at least one assist tonight so ball movement was outstanding.  I am very proud of our efforts tonight.”

Kniseley put up 25 points to lead all scorers while Ryan Oldendorf had 13, Dummer finished with 12 and Wagner scored 10.

B-T (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-points) — Kniseley 11/15-0/0-3-25 A. Thompson 0/3-0/0-1-0 Johnson 2/2-0/0-1-5 Olson 1/1-2/2-2-4 Shramek 1/2-0/0-7-2 Bernadotte 1/3-0/0-2-2 Dummer 5/9-2/4-12 Wagner 3/7-2/2-3-10 Anderson 0/2-0/0-2-0 Oldendorf 5/8-2/2-3-13 Halverson 1/2-0/0-3-2

B-T 74 Mel-Min 49

Another strong start put B-T in control for a lopsided win.

The Wildcats scored 44 points in the first half as the team took a 23-point lead into halftime.

“We came out tonight to have fun and play some team basketball,” Storlie said. “We got everyone involved early in our offenses and they played well.”

B-T maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half and was ahead 69-39 with about six minutes to play before reserves closed out the game. 

“I am proud of our efforts tonight and picking up a big win in the conference is always nice,” Storlie said.

Kniseley scored 25 points again to lead B-T while Dummer added 15 and Oldendorf finished with 14. Wagner finished with nine points, Peyton Bernadotte, five and both Tavian Shramek and Austin Thompson finished with three.