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The first game of the year teaches teams a great deal. Both Mineral Point and River Valley learned they have several things to work on, but the Blackhawks learned about their resiliency, and the Pointers found out they have what it takes to be clutch down the stretch as they claimed a 59-52 non-conference win.
The Pointers started strong, opening with a 6-1 run with buckets from Chanler Leonard, Cory Schultz, and Turner Poad. The Hawks didn't tally their first field goal until the 2:52 mark when Tayt Caraway hit from three point land. Trevor Wendhausen answered with a three of his own, but Adam Mueller responded with an old-fashioned three point play to pull River Valley within 9-7 at the end of one.
The second quarter was again evenly matched. Sy Staver got hot for the Pointers, hitting two threes and notching eight points. Valley started getting the Pointers into some foul trouble, and went to the line for ten free throw attempts in the period as the halftime score still saw Mineral Point in front 21-18.
Mineral Point was firing on all cylinders to start the third, opening with a 14-5 run that featured four three pointers, two each from Staver and Wendhausen. Valley dug deep and fought back with a 12-0 stretch, five from Mueller, to tie things at 35 all with 1:15 to go. A big bucket from Staver with five seconds to go gave the home team a three point lead at 40-37 entering the fourth.
Valley was keeping things close, but after Cody Bindl's three at the 3:57 mark, the Hawks would fail to score another field goal until just 13 seconds left, when the game was out of hand. Ian Ewers' two pointer with 3:22 to go, along with Wendhausen's three pointer with 1:13 remaining, were the clutch shots for the Pointers that swung the momentum permanently to their side.
Staver led all scorers with 22 points and Wendhausen added 18. Both were deadly from beyond the arc, combining for nine three pointers.
Caraway was the top Blackhawk with 13. Taylor Thering and Mueller added 12 and 11 points each, respectively.
"Their three pointers killed us," said Valley coach Jeff Johnson. "We were outscored 27-9 in that department. So, even though our formula of making more free throws than our opponent even attempts worked, we didn't make enough to win."
"We needed to limit our turnovers, especially down the stretch, and we rushed things, especially early in the game. Although this was just the first game of the season, we had five seniors on the court, and I would've expected more from them," said the coach.
"I felt we persevered tonight," said Pointer coach Dan Burreson. "To say I was disappointed in our defense tonight is an understatement, but we will put more time and effort into making that better."
"Offensively we did good things at times. Last year, we were inexperienced at guard, but I think the experience those kids got last year paid dividends tonight. Sy and Trevor really played like veterans tonight, and I'd say Turner played like a veteran as well, even though this was only his first varsity game. Ian had a big bucket down the stretch."
"Our defense played well when we needed it to, but it was not the full 32 minutes that we will need the rest of the season. Give credit to Valley--they will compete hard all year, and they battled to the end. We have work to do, but I think both of these ball clubs will be pretty decent teams by the end of the year," concluded Burreson.
The Pointers will host Pecatonica Saturday with the junior varsity starting at noon and the varsity to follow. Dodgeville will come to town on Tuesday.
BOX SCORE
RV: 7-11-19-15--52
MP: 9-12-19-19--59
RIVER VALLEY (fg-ft-tp) 52: Hoffman 1-4/8-6, Noble 1-0-2, Bindl 1-1/2-4, Caraway 4-3/5-13, Mueller 4-3/4-11, Thering 1-10/17-12, Kinney 2-0-4. Totals: 14-21/36-52. Fouls: 19. Three pointers: Caraway 2, Bindl 1.
MINERAL POINT 59: Staver 7-3/7-22, Ewers 1-1/2-3, Poad 2-0/1-4, Wendhausen 5-4/4-18, Weier 1-0-2, Leonard 2-2/2-6, Schultz 1-2/2-4. Totals: 19-12/18-59. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: Leonard, Schultz. Three pointers: Staver 5, Wendhausen 4.