Bulldogs best Toppers, sweep series for first time since 2020

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

by Joel DeWitt

Sports Correspondent

The first matchup between Glenwood City and Boyceville boys’ basketball team saw the Bulldogs hit 56 percent from behind the arc on their way to a 26-point victory.

While Boyceville didn’t match that offensive output, their defense put the clamps down and held the Hilltoppers to only 22 percent from the field to secure the 50-31 win and the season sweep in Glenwood City last Friday, February 17.

Boyceville’s offense was far from its first game performance, but it was their ability to stymie Hilltopper runs and maintain the lead throughout the game that was the key. The Bulldogs scored first, and never trailed, despite 13 turnovers and 21 personal fouls.

Grant Kaiser started the scoring for the Bulldogs with a short jumper and the 2-0 lead. Elek Anderson would tie it up at 2-2 for Glenwood.

A quick 6-0 spurt by the Bulldogs, capped by a Jackson Phillips 3 pointer, put them up 8-2 with a little over 12 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Hilltoppers quickly countered. Another Anderson jumper, followed by a corner 3 pointer by Brody Olson brought Glenwood City to within one point with eleven minutes remaining in the half.

However, that would be as close as the Hilltoppers would get. Two baskets by Chase Hollister and a 3 pointer from Caden Wold put the Bulldogs up 15-7 at the midway mark of the first half.

A pair of free throws from Anthony Nelson along with a Jayden Quinn mid-range jumper brought the Hilltoppers to within four points.

Once again, the Bulldogs would surge ahead. Mason Bowell’s 3-point play, along Simon Evenson’s 3 pointer put Boyceville up 21-11.

The Toppers cut the deficit to 22-16 on another Olson trey but went into half down 24-16.

The Bulldogs and Hilltoppers traded baskets to begin the second half, but from there Glenwood City’s field goals were few and far between.

The Hilltoppers only managed two other field-goals in the second half, a 3-point play by Anderson and a jumper from Anthony Nelson.

With the Hilltoppers struggling, the Bulldogs were able to gradually pull away. The first nine minutes of the half saw Boyceville use a 12-3 run to extend their lead to 36-19. The run was capped by buckets from Wold and Hollister.

Another Bulldog spurt, this one a 14-7 run over the final six minutes of the game spelled doom for the Hilltoppers.

The run began on a pair of free throws by Phillips due to a Glenwood City bench technical foul. Wold would bury a corner 3 pointer to give the Bulldogs a five-point possession and the 41-24 lead.

Boyceville would hit enough free throws down the stretch to hold the Hilltoppers at bay and secure the 50-31 victory.

Glenwood City was led offensively by Max Janson with nine points. While he converted on zero field-goals, he was 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. Anderson was close behind with seven points.

The loss leaves the Hilltoppers (3-17, 1-12) in last place in the conference, one game behind Elmwood/Plum City. Glenwood City will travel to Colfax for their final regular season game of the year on February 23 for a 7:15 p.m. tipoff.

The win evens the Bulldogs record on the season (11-11, 4-9) and leaves them one game behind fifth place Colfax in the conference standings.

For Boyceville it was an overall team effort offensively as eight Bulldogs registered in the scorebook. Wold paced his squad with ten points. Evenson and Kaiser each had eight points, while Hollister pitched in seven.

The Bulldogs wrap up the season with a February 20 match up with Webster. They will then play Mondovi on February 23. Boyceville will host both games with 7:15 p.m. tipoffs.

Elmwood/Plum City 53, Boyceville 45

A slow start eventually doomed the Boyceville boys in their home game versus Elmwood-Plum City February 14.

The Bulldogs found themselves trailing the visiting Wolves 17 to 5 after the first nine minutes of action last Tuesday. Boyceville did rally in the remaining minutes of the first half to cut its deficit to 23-15 by intermission, but a 30 all tie in second-half scoring resulted in a 53-45 home loss.

Senior Simon Evenson was the lone Bulldog to score double digits as he finished with ten which included two of his team’s five triples. Junior Caden Wold also hit a pair of three pointers to score eight points. Senior Jack Phillips had the other triple and finished with six as did junior Grant Kaiser.

Boyceville cut its deficit to just four points midway through the second half, but Elmwood-Plum City held off the host Bulldogs by hitting 17 of its final 18 free throw attempts to preserve the victory. Overall, the Wolves finished 20-for-26 at the charity stripe while Bulldogs was a solid 8-for-11.

Durand/Arkansaw 51, Glenwood City 33

The Panthers came into the Valentine’s Day boys’ basketball contest against the Hilltoppers looking to keep pace with conference leading Elk Mound. They concluded the day solidly locked into second place as they handed the visiting Toppers a 51-33 defeat.

The Hilltoppers took an early 2-0 lead on two free throws from Anthony Nelson. Jayden Quinn gave Glenwood another lead at 6-5 with 14 minutes to play.

Unfortunately for the Toppers, the Panthers controlled the remainder of the half and outscored Glenwood by ten to take the 26-17 lead.

Durand/Arkansaw scored the first eight points coming out of intermission to take firm control at 34-17 on their way to the 18-point victory.

Elek Anderson paced the Hilltoppers with 11 points, including 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Quinn added nine, while Nelson had seven points to go along with his ten rebounds.