Topper boys fall to Wolves and Cardinals
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By Missy Klatt
Sports Correspondent
The Glenwood City boys’ basketball team was on the road this past week for two conference games.
Unfortunately, the Toppers came up on the short side of both scores to remain winless this season. Glenwood City fell to 0-13 in Dunn-St. Croix action and 0-20 overall with the most recent losses.
On Tuesday, February 18, the boys traveled to Plum City where they took on the Elmwood/Plum City Wolves. Then on Friday, February 21, the Toppers were in Spring Valley to face off against the Cardinals. Both of these teams were too much for the Toppers and they lost 50-75 and 32-65, respectively.
“Looking forward to having a strong showing at our last home game on Thursday versus Mondovi!” said Toppers head coach Tristan Kittilson
Besides being their last home game, it will also be the last regular season game for the Toppers as playoffs start next week on Tuesday, March 3. The Hilltoppers, seeded #12, will be headed to Grantsburg (#5) for the first round in the WIAA Division 4 regional competition. The Toppers also opened last year’s tournament on the road against the Pirates who prevailed 64-52. The winner will play the fourth-seeded Beavers in Cumberland on Friday, March 6.
Elmwood/Plum City
According to Coach Kittilson, the game started decent for both teams with each hitting some good shots. However, the Wolves turned on the fire and heated things up, knocking in seven, three-point shots in the first half.
Kittilson thought his team showed some toughness by hanging in there and being down by only twelve (25-37) at the half.
In the second half, Kittilson conceded that his squad gave up too many plays and had too many turnovers. He added that they had some great moments but were unable to finish them.
Drew Olson led the team in scoring with 12 points. Kittilson noted that this was one of Olson’s best overall games. Brandyn Hallquist was next for the Toppers with ten points but, unfortunately, he had to leave the game in the middle of the second half due to an ankle injury.
The Wolves are currently 7-14 overall and 3-10 in the Dunn-St. Croix conference sitting just above the Toppers in the standings.
Glenwood City (50)
FG-FT-F-T: Hallquist 4-0-3-10, Janson 3-0-1-8, Olson 4-3-4-12, Wickman 1-0-2-2, Eggert 0-0-1-0, Grant 1-0-1-2, Hanson 3-0-1-7, Swenby 0-0-0-0, Loring 3-0-1-6, Moe 1-0-1-3, Klatt 0-0-0-0. Total 20-3-15-50.
Elmwood/Plum City (75)
FG-FT-F-T: EPC: Clampe 5-5-2-15, Whipple 6-0-0-14, Phillips 0-0-3-0, Carson 0-0-0-0, Gansluckner 5-4-2-16, Webb 9-0-2-20, Bartz 4-0-1-8, Bauer 0-0-1-0, Pelzel 1-0-1-2. Total 30-9-12-75.
Glenwood City 25 25 – 50
Elmwood/Plum City 37 38 – 75
3-point goals: Glenwood City: Hallquist 2, Janson 2, Olson, Hanson, Moe. Elmwood/Plum City: Whipple 2, Ganslucker 3, Webb 2.
Spring Valley
“Spring Valley is a very good team and they played like it. They played great defense and made it hard on us all night long with their physicality and effort,” commented Kittilson after Glenwood City’s game against the Cardinals on Friday.
The Cardinals, who lead 43-10 at half and cruised to a 65-32 win over the Toppers, have an overall record of 16-4 and are presently in second place in the Dunn-St. Croix conference with a 10-3 record.
Kittilson further commented, “We failed to convert on many occasions and let them get out in transition for too many high percentage shots. We just got down by too large of a margin early and just couldn’t get into the swing of things.
The margin was large. By the end of the first half the Cardinals had a 33 point lead (10-43). In the second half, both teams scored 22 points but it was too late for the Toppers as they fell 32-65.
Kittilson praised freshman Max Janson, “He got the opportunity to play and showed great effort and did some nice things.” Kittilson noted that the injured Brandyn Hallquist tried fighting through his ankle injury but was clearly not 100 percent.
Glenwood City (32)
FG-FT-F-T: Hallquist 2-1-1-6, Bilese 1-0-0-3, McCarthy 0-0-0-0, G. Janson 1-0-1-2, Olson 2-0-2-4, Wickman 0-0-1-0, Eggert 1-0-3-2, Grant 0-0-2-0, Hanson 4-1-3-9, Loring 1-0-3-2, Moe 0-0-3-0, Klatt 0-1-2-1, M. Janson 1-0-2-3, Logghe 0-0-0-0. Total 13-3-19-32.
Spring Valley (65)
FG-FT-F-T: Stangl 2-0-0-6, Bauer 1-0-2-2, Kotval 2-0-0-4, Bednarek 3-3-0-9, Borberding 6-3-1-15, Bowman 3-4-2-10, Maier 1-0-1-3, Dicus 0-3-1-3, Hannock 1-2-1-4, Olson 1-0-1-2, Ducklow 1-3-1-5 Stans 0-2-0-2. Total 21-20-10-65.
Glenwood City 10 22 – 32
Spring Valley 43 22 – 65
3-point goals: Glenwood City: Hallquist, Bilese, M. Janson. Spring Valley: Stangl 2, Maier.