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If only the last eight minutes could have matched the first 28.
That is what Iowa-Grant coach Ryan Hill was thinking after Mineral Point went on a 23-0 run with the score tied and turned a close SWAL game into a run away.
The speed of Joah Filardo and Blaise Watters played big into the Pointer run as did the defense that was played on the other end of the floor. Filardo had 20 of his 27 points the second half and Watters put in nine of his 19.
But it was the defense that impressed Mineral Point coach Dan Burreson the most and that played big in giving the Pointers some breathing room after a 27-20 first half and a tie game in the second period.
"Our defense was the difference in the second half," Burreson said. "After they tied it up I think we went on a 23-0 run. It was the best job we have done defensively as a team this year."
Besides the scoring done by Filardo and Watters it was a 12 points and the work on the boards Liam Stumpf turned in that impressed Burreson.
"Liam did a great job on the boards tonight," Burreson said. "That is what we need from him every night. Liam is capable of a double double every time out, if he goes to the boards like he did tonight."
Burreson said other players chipped in and played a big role in the win also.
"It was Grant Bossert's best game of the year so far and we got good minutes from Justin Baehler, Gabe Sporle, Cameron Wiegman and Grady Gorgen, especially on the defensive end."
Iowa-Grant coach Ryan Hill knew the Pointers are deep and athletic so he expected a tough time holding them down. He cautions people to look past the final score because for all but eight minutes it was a close game and sometimes it was tied.
The quick strike by the Pointers came quickly and twisted up the single digit contest that game really was.
"We got into foul trouble and we turned the ball over at the end," Hill said. "They ended up getting a lot of points in transition."
Until then the Panthers were staying with the Pointers through a solid effort.
"Everyone who got into the game worked hard tonight," Hill said. "We battled until the end."
Isaac Hill had 14 points to lead the Panthers and Michael Winders added 13. Seven players scored for Iowa-Grant.
"It was a game that was closer than the final score," Hill continued. "Overall we played pretty well."
The Panthers are at Belmont tonight in a game that is important for seeding purposes in the post season.
"Belmont is much improved," Hill said. "We will need to play well."
SCORE BY HALVES
Mineral Point 27 43 70
Iowa-Grant 20 24 44
BOX SCORE
MINERAL POINT 70: (fg-ft-tp)
Grady Gorgen 0-0-0, McVay 1-0-2, Gunnar Gorgen 0-0-0, Watters 7-2-19, Wiegman 1-0-2, DuBois 0-0-0 Baehler 0-0-0, Filardo 10-4-27, Stumpf 3-6-12, Sporle 0-0-0, Bossert 2-2-6, Wendhausen 0-0-0, Keyes 1-0-2. Totals 25-14/25-70 Fouls-19
IOWA-GRANT 44: Lundell 2-2-6, Hill 5-3-14, Winders 4-4-13, Kuhls 0-1-1, Paradis 0-0-0 Merwin 0-0-0, Laufenberg 1-0-2, Winkler 1-0-2, Kitelinger 2-0-6, Oyen 0-0-0, Kohlenberg 0-0-0, Popple 0-0-0. Totals 15-10/16-44 Fouls-21
3 point goals:
MP-Watters 3, Filardo 3
I-G-Hill 1, Winders 1, Kitelinger 2