Topper boys tame Elmwood-Plum City Wolves for D-SC win

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by Joel DeWitt

Sports Correspondent

GLENWOOD CITY — The Hilltopper boys’ basketball team welcomed Elmwood/Plum City to town for the team’s first matchup of the season. Even though the Wolves came into the game with only a single conference win, they kept the contest tight for the Hilltoppers.

The game was highlighted by seven lead changes with the Wolves scoring on back-to-back baskets with 7:20 left in the game to take the 43-42 lead. However, Glenwood City’s offense proved too strong down the stretch as the Hilltoppers outscored the Wolves 22-10 to take home the win.

“To make this run it was our defense. The boys really buckled down and worked hard to get stops,” praised GC coach Patrick Olson. “Brady Thompson and Mitchel Main did a tremendous job on their top scorer.”

The win was the Toppers’ third in four games and leveled their conference record at 3-3 and pushed their overall record to 6-5.

The Hilltoppers had a banner night shooting. Combined they hit on 13-of-14 free throws and were 50 percent from the field going 24-for-48. Brody Olson, who was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, has hit 20 straight the past two games.

“We are constantly talking about details and what a good shot is with an emphasis on making the extra pass,” commented coach Olson. “We are currently leading the D-SC in assists per game, and this helps our shooting percentage.

After the Wolves’ Lucas Glaus drained a three pointer from the top of the key, the Hilltoppers responded with a 10-3 run. Five baskets within the paint, three from Ben Klatt and two from Brody Olson, gave the Hilltoppers the 12-6 advantage with 12:45 left in the first half.

The Hilltopper shooting went cold the next six minutes as a three point from Landen McDonough put Elmwood/Plum City on top 22-18 with 6:45 remaining in the first half. 

The Hilltopper responded immediately with an Olson corner three pointer to trim the lead to one. Klatt followed up with a turnaround jumper to put the Toppers up 23-22. They’d carry the lead into intermission, going into halftime up 29-25.

The Wolves scored the first five points of the second half to reclaim the lead 30-29. Olson connected with Brody Riba on a back-door cut and reverse layup to kick start the Hilltopper second half scoring. Riba followed up with two more layups to push the Toppers to the 35-30 advantage.

Glenwood extended their lead to eight at 42-34 with 10:00 left in the game on a put back from Brady Thompson, but the Wolves clawed back. Elmwood/Plum City culminated a 9-0 run with a fast break layup to take back the lead 43-42 with 7:20 left in the game.

Up 46-45 with 5:40 left in the game, a baseline drive from Olson triggered a Hilltopper 9-0 run. Thompson scored five consecutive points and Klatt wrapped up the run with a five-foot jumper to give the Hilltoppers the 55-45 lead with 2:55 left in the game.

Glenwood stretched their lead to 16 points late in the game before setting for the 11-point win at 64-53.

The Hilltoppers had four scorers hit the double-digit mark on the night, led by Olson with 22. He also pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out 11 assists to lead in both categories. Klatt, Thompson, and Riba had 14, 13, and 12 points, respectively.

Glenwood travels to conference co-leader Spring Valley (10-2, 5-1) on Thursday, January 30. They then host Mondovi (1-12, 0-6) on Tuesday, February 4. Both games tipoff at 7:15 p.m.