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Visiting Pecatonica got to within three early in the second half, but couldn't quite catch Highland in a 64-52 Cardinal win in a Six Rivers West/East crossover non-conference game Monday night.
After a 12-12 deadlock by the end of the first quarter, Highland's sharp shooting senior Tyler Kleist added a trio of three pointers in the second quarter to go with his one in the first frame. That propelled his team to a 16-11 edge and a 28-21 halftime lead.
The Vikings came out of the locker room and pulled to within three at 30-27, but they would get no closer.
They did get to within six twice - after the Cardinals had stretched their lead to as many as 12 - late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. But Highland junior Nic Pierick made seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter and his teammates made good on six of 10 and that was enough to stave off any rally the Vikings could muster up, missing on a couple of drives to the basket and throwing the ball away after a couple of offensive rebounds.
"We were just a half a step slow getting it to the open spot too often," said Pecatonica coach Kevin Parman. "We cut the lead to six twice, but then had to foul and they made their free throws."
"We're getting closer every game - we just have to click a little more often. We need to attack (like we did), but we need to slow down just a little and finish," Parman concluded."
On the night, his team was led offensively by Tanner Kleppe with 12 points. Drew Schliem, Matt Goldthorpe and Jon Hendrickson each hit nine.
"I didn't think we played real well tonight," said Cardinal coach Chad Paquette. "We came out too flat."
"Kleist kept us in it in the first half. He hit some shots. We're a better team when we hit our shots," he added.
"Give Pec credit. They kept coming after us. They're athletic. I'm happy we were able to make our free throws when we needed to," Paquette pointed out.
Kleist led four Cardinals in double figures with 16 points. Pierick and Blake Bodenstein both hit 15. Bailey Bodenstein added 14.
"I wish we could have four guys in double figures every night," Paquette said.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Pecatonica 12 11 8 21-52
Highland 12 16 15 21-64
Pecatonica 52 (fg, ft, tp) Tanner Kleppe 4-2/2-12, Drew Schliem 3-1/2-9, JJ Hogan 2-0-4, Matt Goldthorpe 4-1/2-9, Karson Feller 2-2/2-6, Jon Hendrickson 4-1/1-9, Dillon Conwell 1-0-3. Totals 20-7/9-52. F-22. FO-Schliem, Hendrickson. 3-pointers: Kleppe 2, Schliem 2, Conwell.
Highland 64: Nic Pierick 3-9/10-15, Andrew Wolfe 1-0-2, Blake Bodenstein 4-6/8-14, Tyler Kleist 5-1/2-16, Mitchell Riley 2-0-4. Totals 20-19/26-64. F-13. 3-pointers: Kleist 5. JV-Pecatonica won.
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