Elk Mound boys come from behind to pull out conference basketball win over Colfax

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by Marlys Kruger

Sports Correspondent

COLFAX — After playing a non-conference game, both the Colfax and Elk Mound boys’ basketball teams returned to Dunn-St. Croix Conference play when they faced each other in the Colfax gym January 5.

It was a tight battle throughout the first half and most of the second half, but in the end, the Mounders tight zone defense and their ability to get the ball inside on the offensive end allowed them to pull out a 69-55 win. Elk Mound is now 9-1 overall and 4-1 in D-SC Conference play, one game behind both Spring Valley and Durand. The Vikings are now 4-8 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

It was a fast-paced game throughout but the Vikings opened up an 8-2 lead after great ball movement allowed them to break the Mounders’ zone defense. Aiden Fischer scored just ten seconds into the game and after Sam Wenzel tied it up, Colfax used a 6-0 run on back to back three-point shots from Blake Johnson and Fischer to pull ahead. Brady Amble drained a triple for the Mounders but another scoring streak by the Vikings with Fischer scoring seven points put them up 15-5.

Mounder Grandt Mueller broke the string with a short jumper but Viking Elijah Entzminger countered with his own shot from the top of the key. Mueller drained a triple, and Fischer continued to have the hot hand as he scored on a short jump shot. Logan Jerome canned a triple for the Mounders and a single free toss from both Kaden Russo and Caleb Beskow cut the Viking lead to 19-15 

Entzminger and Wenzel traded baskets then Entzminger connected from the elbow for a 23-17 Viking lead. The Vikings committed their seventh team foul with 3:13 left in the half, allowing Amble to knock down a pair of free tosses. A huge slam dunk by Jerome was called off due to a traveling call but Russo drew the Mounders to a two-point deficit with a jumper in the paint. Entzminger countered on a shot from an in-bounds pass, then a few seconds later went to the foul line and canned a couple of free throws. Wenzel finished off the first half scoring with a shot under the hoop but the Vikings held a slim 27-25 advantage heading into the intermission.

Colfax came up empty on two shots from long range to start the second half, but the Mounders missed one of their own in between. Logan Swartz came off the bench for Colfax and scored under the hoop and a few seconds later, Entzminger swiped the ball and drove to the bucket for another two points and a 31-25 lead. Amble drew the Mounders closer on a triple and Wenzel scored from the paint to cut the Colfax lead to one point.

Johnson stole the ball and found Entzminger who hit from the top of the key but a short time later, Russo was fouled after making a bucket, and with the free throw, it was 33-33. Elk Mound took their first lead of the game on a Jerome triple, but Fischer didn’t allow that lead to last long as he drilled one of his own. Entzminger put the Vikings up by two with another steal and layup, but Russo knotted it up on a close range shot.

Cale Knutson drained a three pointer to give the Mounders a 41-38 lead, and the Mounders never trailed after that.

After a Wenzel free toss and buckets from Mueller and Amble, Elk Mound pulled ahead 46-38. Swartz and Amble traded buckets, then Entzminger scored twice on a put back and a layup and the Vikings were down just 48-44. Jerome drilled his third triple of the contest and Russo scored from the paint to up the Mounder advantage to 53-44 with around five minutes left in the game.

Fischer continued to find the hoop from long range as he canned his fourth trey of the game and Johnson drained his second of the contest and the Elk Mound lead was down to five at 55-50.

After Jerome scored from the low post, the Vikings committed their tenth team foul and the Mounders knocked down nine free tosses in the last three minutes, and in between, Jerome managed to get his slam dunk in to finish off the win.

The Mounders were led by Amble and Wenzel with 15 points each while Jerome added 14. Russo, who became the Mounders all-time leading scorer a few days earlier, was held to three points in the first half and finished with ten for the game. Elk Mound was successful on seven shots from behind the arc and were 17-for-23 from the charity stripe.

Fischer and Entzminger carried the scoring load for the Vikings with Fischer scoring 22 points and Entzminger 20. The Vikings made six treys in the contest and were just 3-for-5 from the foul line.

Elk Mound was at Fall Creek Monday and then start a three-game home stand Thursday against Spring Valley, followed by Prescott on Saturday and Elmwood-Plum City next Tuesday, January 16.

Colfax, meanwhile, plays just one game this week, a conference contest in Plum City against Elmwood-Plum City. The Viking boys host Glenwood City next Tuesday, January 16.