Wildcats split conference games with E-S, Whitehall
Michael Waldera of Blair-Taylor went in for a layup during their game against Eleva-Strum last week Tuesday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
The Blair-Taylor boys basketball team got off to fast starts in two games last week, one they ran away with and the other quickly turned in the other direction.
The Wildcats controlled last week Tuesday’s game against Eleva-Strum from the opening tip as they led by 27 at halftime and went on to win 64-32. B-T came out on fire against Whitehall on Friday, but the Norse showed by they are considered the favorites to win the Dairyland Conference Large Division as they went on a big run before halftime and won 73-61.
“I am so proud of the way we fought back and had a chance to really make it interesting down the stretch,” B-T coach Randy Storlie said of his team’s game against Whitehall. “They are a good team and you cannot give them easy chances and points. We will learn from this and get better.”
The Wildcats entered this week with a 3-4 record (1-2 in DC play). They play at Cochrane-Fountain City on Thursday and will head to Cashton next week Thursday.
Blair-Taylor 64 E-S 32
The Wildcats scored the first 10 points and never looked back.
B-T got off to a fast start with a. 10-0 run and dominated the first half, taking a 42-15 lead into halftime.
“It was great to see the guys finally come out and play like they are capable of,” Coach Randy Storlie said. “We moved the ball very well and did what we wanted to do on both ends of the floor. I thought our defense was outstanding as they had a hard time getting off a good shot.”
The Wildcats slowed down offensively in the second half, but their defense still limited the Cardinals to 17 points as B-T extended its lead.
“It was a good win for the guys and we can see what we can do if we can keep getting better as the season goes on,” Storlie said.
Ethan Knisley put up 19 points to lead B-T while Evan Nehring scored 16 while pulling down 13 rebounds and Jaren Swanson added 13 points.
B-T (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-points) — Kniseley 7/16-0/0-6-19 Olson 0/0-2/2-2-2 Dummer 0/1-0/0-0-0 Shramek 2/8-3/5-4-7 Arneson 1/3-0/0-2-2 Swanson 5/11-0/1-2-13 Armitage 0/1-0/0-4-0 Smith 0/2-0/1-2-0 M. Nehring 0/2-0/2-2-0 E. Nehring 7/15-2/5-13-16 Stalheim 0/1-0/1-2-0
