Hilltoppers edge out Bulldogs to grab second DSC win of season

By Cara L. Dempski

BOYCEVILLE — Anyone who owns, or has ever owned, a dog knows that canines enjoy chasing things. 

Such was the case with the Boyceville Bulldogs boys’ basketball team during January 23 home contest against their nearest Dunn-St. Croix competition, Glenwood City. The Dogs chased the Hilltoppers for the entire game, but the Glenwood City boys always managed to stay just out of reach.

The score was 63-59 with 3.5 seconds left in the game when Boyceville’s Logan Knudtson put up an outside shot from near the Bulldog bench that swished through the net as the last second dropped off the time clock to end the game with 63-62 loss for the Bulldogs.

Glenwood City took a seven-point lead into the halftime break after losing senior Allen Croes early in the game. Croes suffered a cut above his left eyebrow on a defensive rebound and was not able to return to the floor after leaving to be treated. Hilltopper head coach Tristan Kittilson said his squad played better in the first half than in the second.

“We came out and executed well in the first half. I thought we made it really tough on (Luke) Knudtson,” Kittilson said. “The second half, not so much. That’s going to happen, though. It’s an emotional game and a neat rivalry.”

The rivalry was also evident in Boyceville coach Ben Luer’s comments.

“We wanted to get them badly,” Luer said. “I think we can definitely carry the momentum from this game into the next game we play with them.”

It has been a season of scrappy play for both teams, but Glenwood City took an advantage into the Monday-night game since they had won a conference contest already this season and Boyceville is winless in the DSC. 

The Hilltoppers controlled the first 18 minutes, but left Boyceville came on strong in the last three minutes of the opening half to narrow the numbers and make the score 25-18 at the half. Glenwood City raced to an 11-point lead at 15:22 after three-point shots from Dillon Hierlmeier and Tanner Davis raised the score to 31-20. 

But the Bulldogs, who are as stubborn as their namesake breed, clawed the door back open and managed to pull within three with 1:01 left to go in the game. They went on a 25-17 run in the last eight minutes of the game, and an 8-17 run in the final 4:30. 

The second half saw both teams commit plenty of fouls, but Glenwood City was only 16 for 32 with charity shots for the game, and Boyceville did not fare much better with 11 of 21 free shots in the game.

Bulldog junior Luke Knudtson took top scoring honors in the match-up. He was limited to only six points in the opening half, but then fired another 19 points through the hoop in the second half for a total of 25. Glenwood’s Riley Schutz, also a junior, scored 19 points for the Hilltoppers to lead their offensive effort.

Other Boyceville contributors were Bryce Boda, who scored 16 points and is credited with a trio of three-pointers, Cooper Boesl with 10 points, Logan Knudtson, who hit a trio of threes for nine points, and Jayson Gonzalez, who scored two on free throws.

Sophomore Dillon Hierlmeier added 15 points to the Glenwood City score with five field goals, a three-pointer, and two free throws. Quinn Taylor picked up 12 points with four field goals and four charity throws, Tanner Davis scored nine points, Hadin DeSmith is credited with five, and Pete Hill scored three.

The win lifts Glenwood City to 2-5 in the DSC, while the loss dropped Boyceville to 0-7. 

The Bulldogs will host their next three contests. They will play Spring Valley on January 26, Elmwood/Plum City on January 31, and Colfax on February 3. Glenwood City will go to Plum City for a game against the Wolves on January 26 before playing a non-conference contest in Grantsburg on January 28. The Toppers return to their home court on January 31 for a meeting with Durand and travel to Spring Valley on February 3.

GLENWOOD CITY 63, BOYCEVILLE 62
Glenwood City…………………..25  38 — 53
Boyceville…………………………18  44 — 62

TEAM STATISTICS (FG-FT-F-T)

Glenwood City (19-16-17-63) D. Hierlmeier 5-2-4-15, P. Hill 1-1-0-3, H. DeSmith 2-1-5-5, Q. Taylor 4-4-2-12, R. Schutz 6-4-4-19, T. Davis 1-4-1-9.

Boyceville (15-11-22-62) B. Boda 2-3-4-16, C. Boesl 4-2-5-10, Lo. Knudtson 0-0-1-9, J. Gonzalez 0-2-5-2, B. Larson 0-0-2-0, Lu. Knudtson 9-4-4-25, J. Riesmer 0-0-1-0.

THREE-POINTERS GC — D. Hierlmeier 1, R. Schutz 1, T. Davis 1; B — B. Boda 3, Lo. Knudtson 3, Lu. Knudtson 1.