Bulldog boys nipped by Cardinals

BOYCEVILLE — The charity stripe was not so charitable to the Boyceville boys last Thursday evening.

Often making a difference between victory and defeat, the Bulldogs found it to be the latter as it went to the free throw line just nine times, sinking only three tosses in its December 10 conference home basketball game against Spring Valley.

Conversely, the Cardinals went to the free throw line 23 times converting 15 of them to take a 58-50 win, its first of the season.

Boyceville, who is still searching for season win number one, held a 22-19 advantage in made field goals and a distinct overall shooting advantage of 45 to 36 percent. The Cardinals did make five treys to the Bulldogs’ three.

The Bulldogs trailed by eight points at the break, 32-24, but whittled away at the deficit in the second half and tied the game at 40.

But the Cardinals, who made nine of 11 free throws in the second half, outscored the Bulldogs 18-10 in the final five and a half minutes of play to secure the victory. Both teams scored 26 points apiece in the second half.

Spring Valley’s Sean Borderding led all scorers with 22 points which include a perfect six-for-six performance from the line in the latter half. He also added four, two-point baskets during that time to go with the three he converted in the first half and finished with 13 of the Cardinals’ 28 rebounds

Zach Borsen added 14 points for the Cardinals including four treys in the first half.

Boyceville, who had just seven players available for the varsity contest, finished the final half minute of play with just four boys on the floor after Sam Hellmann and Buddy Hanestad fouled out and Cooper Boesl had used up his eligibility in the first half. Boesl had played in the junior varsity contest and had just one half of play left for the varsity game.

Hunter Anderson was the Bulldogs’ top scorer with 15 points, nine of which came in the first half. Sam Hellmann chipped in for ten points, all in the first half. Micadin Kahl added nine off a pair of second-half threes and Luke Knutson netted a trio of two-point goals in the second half to finish with six points.

The Boyceville boys played in Bruce Tuesday (Dec. 15) and will return home this Friday, December 18 to put the wraps on its pre-holiday slate with a conference game against Colfax.