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It was a game that could've come down to the last shot, but River Valley 6'0" senior guard Brandon Noble made sure it didn't by making two clutch free throws with 10.1 ticks left on the clock for a 64-60 lead. That helped secure a 64-61 win for the Blackhawks at Dodgeville Friday night.
When Richland Center lost to Prairie du Chien that same night, the River Valley vaulted into first place in the SWC.
The Dodgers held a 13-11 lead after the opening quarter, but Valley took the lead in the second frame and necer relinquished it again. They led 26-20 at the half and 43-36 after three.
On the strength of three point makes by Nate Hottmann and Austin Larson, a rebound basket by Mitchell Olson and two free throws by Nick Crowley, the Dodgers tied it at 55 with 2:11 remaining.
River Valley missed two tries at the basket on the ensuing possession, but Blackhawk Taylor Theiring was there for their second straight rebound and a bucket. He was fouled and made the old fashioned three points the hard way for a 58-55 lead.
Good defense on both ends took place the next two possessions as Dodger Nick Crowley was denied on a drive ot the basket and the Dodgers seemingly stopped RV under their basket, but a loose ball resulted in a timeout being called from the Blackhawk bench with their player in possession a split second before the Dodgers could tie it up and gain the ball on the alternating possession.
River Valley 6'4" senior Adam Mueller then sank a tough jumper with :57 ticks left on the clock.
"We were worried if they got the lead down the stretch at home we'd never get it back," said River Valley coach Jeff Johnson. "Thering played well inside and won the battle several times and Adam hit a big shot for us with about a minute left."
Larson nailed another three for the Dodgers to pull them to within two at 60-58, but Noble sank both free throws at the :27 mark to make it 62-58.
Crowley made a basket for the Dodgers with 13.9 remaining - 66-60, but Noble was good on his two tosses to pretty much seal the deal.
Dodger Nate Hottmann was fouled on a rebound attempt with .01 left and made one of two free throws for the final score of 64-61.
On the night, Thering led the Blackhawks with 20 points, 13 coming in the second half. Noble, who was 9x10 from the line, came up with 15 and junior Tayt Caraway added 11.
"Coach Bohnsack (Dodgeville coach) said this game would be a real test for his bigs," Johnson pointed out. "I think we won the inside."
"Credit Carter (Hoffman) for doing a defensive job on Crowley. We knew he would get his points, but Carter made it tough for him. Our kids never gave in. It was a team victory. Our kids have taken a huge step as basketball players," Johnson concluded.
Crowley led all scorers with 22 points for the Dodgers. Austin Larson added 15 and Hottmann chipped in 13.
Hottmann hit for a trio of three pointers in the final frame and Crowley popped in 12 points in the third quarter.
"Give River Valley a lot of credit. They fought hard and refused to lose," Bohnsack said. They executed down the stretch and out worked us. "We just had too many turnovers and plays where we didn't execute. Nick had two guys around him pretty much every time he got the ball. Credit coach Johnson for having his team ready to play. They took away our best options tonight."
SCORE BY QUARTERS
RIVER VALLEY 11 15 17 21-64
DODGEVILLE 13 7 16 25-61
BOX SCORE
River Valley 64 (fg, ft, tp) Hoffman 2-1/2-5, DeVita 2-3/4-7, Noble 3-9/10-15, Caraway 4-3/4-11, Mueller 3-0/2-6, Thering 8-4/4-20. Totals 22-20/26-64. F-16.
Dodgeville 61: Nelson 0-0-0, Larson 4-4/4-15, Hottmann 4-2/5-13, Rohowetz 2-0-5, Crowley 8-4/4-22, Clerkin 0-0-0, Gullickson 0-0-0, Olson 3-0-6, Shaffer 0-0-0. Totals 21-10/13-61. F-19.
3-pointers: Larson 3, Hottmann 3, Crowley 2, Rohowetz 1.