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A key 17-0 run to start the second half was the difference and distance maker as the Mineral Point boys basketball team won a non-conference game over visiting Richland Center 59-38 on a snowy Monday night.
Mineral Point stayed undefeated on the season with the victory while the Hornets have yet to get into the win column.
Alec Schmitz had the hot hand to start the night, scoring eight first quarter points. A Sy Staver three pointer ended the scoring as the Pointers led 15-5 at the end of one.
Schmitz drilled another three to start the second quarter and was followed by a hoop from Tarek Oellerich, but that would be the last scoring the Pointers would muster over six minutes until Staver drilled a three before the horn. The Hornets went on an 8-0 stretch during the drought for Point as the hosts led 25-15 at the break.
The 17-0 third quarter explosion was led by eight points from Schmitz, six from Staver, and a three from Joey Gorgen. An old fashioned three point play from Oellerich, and a hoop from Steven Blume as time expired, gave the Pointers a 51-24 advantage entering the fourth.
Pointer bench players saw a great deal of playing time in the fourth. Richland Center scored the last eight points of the game.
Devon Schmitz led the Hornets with 13 as Austin Haas added 10.
Schmitz was the top Pointer with 19 and Staver chipped in 16.
"The first half was a bit sluggish," said Pointer coach Dan Burreson. "We picked up the intensity in the second half and had better ball movement. Everyone seemed to have their good, and bad, moments tonight, but that's how we do things--together."
"Our defense really stepped up in the second half. Dylan MacGilvra gave us good minutes off the bench, Alec shot well again tonight, Sy had another great game offensively, and Tarek showed signs of where he was a few weeks ago," added the coach.
Mineral Point travels to Riverdale Friday.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
RC: 5-10-9-14--38
MP: 15-10-26-8--59
BOX SCORE
RICHLAND CENTER (fg-ft-tp) 38: Simonson 2-0/1-4, Schmitz 3-6/10-13, Johnson 3-3/4-9, Haas 3-4/4-10, Perkins 1-0-2. Totals: 12-13/19-38. Fouls: 6. Three pointers: Schmitz 1.
MINERAL POINT 59: Staver 6-2/2-16, Gorgen 2-0-5, Pfaff 1-0-2, Oellerich 4-1/1-9, Schmitz 7-0/2-19, Blume 1-0-2, MacGilvra 3-0-6. Totals: 24-3/5-59. Fouls: 17. Three pointers: Schmitz 5, Staver 2, Gorgen 1.