Glenwood City boys fall in overtime to Unity
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by Joel DeWitt
Sports Correspondent
BALSAM LAKE – The Glenwood City boys’ basketball team opened Division 4 WIAA boys’ basketball tournament action with a road game against Unity. The Eagles (13-10), third place finishers in the Lakeland West conference, looked to be an evenly match opponent for the Hilltoppers.
The two squads played even ball through two halves as the game entered overtime knotted at 46 apiece. Unfortunately for the Hilltoppers, the Eagles outscored them in the extra period 11-0 to secure the 57-46 win.
“The varsity season did not end the way we hoped or expected but we have seen a lot of growth from these young men and are excited to make another run at it starting this off season into next year,” commented coach Patrick Olson. “We have the majority of our team back and we look forward to putting the pieces together as a team to make a deep run both in conference and also in the playoffs.”
The Hilltoppers fell behind early, trailing Unity 12-5 midway through the first half. However, a 16-4 run pulled Glenwood City back into the game.
Coming out of a timeout, Brody Riba started the run with a layup. Brody Olson then hit a 15-foot jumper to cut the lead to three. Olson followed up with an elbow three pointer to tie the score at 12-12 with 7:20 left in the first half.
After Unity scored to go up two points, Riba drained a corner three pointer to give his team their first lead since the opening minutes. Caleb Klinger followed up with a pair of corner three pointers to put the Toppers up 21-16 with 2:25 left in the half.
Even though Unity was able to tie it at intermission at 24-24, the Hilltoppers came out of halftime on a mission. A put back by Tyler Harrington and a layup from Riba gave Glenwood the early lead.
After the Eagles were able to wrestle the lead back at 33-32, Olson hit from long range to put Glenwood City back on top. Klinger drained his fourth three pointer of the night and Brady Thompson connected on a layup to give the Toppers their largest lead at 40-33 with 11:50 left in the game.
However, an Eagles 10-0 run erased that advantage in minutes and the Hilltoppers found themselves down 43-40 with 8:00 left in the game. Both defenses tightened up down the stretch as Unity scored only a single field goal, and a basket from Thompson, a three pointer from Olson, and free throw by Riba left the game tied at 46-46 at the end of regulation.
Glenwood City had no answers for Unity in the extra period on either end of the court as the Eagles scored all 11 unanswered points in overtime to secure the 57-46 win and advance in the playoffs.
The Hilltoppers were led in scoring by Olson with 20 points and Klinger with 12 points. Combined the pair hit on 7-of-16 three pointers. Olson pulled down ten rebounds to pace Glenwood.
The March 4 game was the last for three seniors on the Hilltopper roster. Harrington, Klinger, and Elliott Springborn all graduate in the spring and have left their mark on the program.
“I am most proud of how these young men took part in all our servant leadership opportunities off the court and how they represented our program, school, and community,” praised coach Olson on his team’s seniors.
The Toppers finished the year 11-11. This is the first time since the 2017-18 (12-12) season Glenwood City has finished at .500 or better.