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By Levi Zimmerman
The Mineral Point boys basketball team defeated Cuba City Thursday night, 75-62, and took over first place in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League standings.
The Pointers and Cubans entered the matchup with a conference record of 9-1.
On January 7, Mineral Point handed Cuba City its first and only, until Thursday, loss of the season.
The Pointers overcame a 15-point deficit and were victorious, 52-50, and they accomplished this while wearing custom-made white socks with the Mineral Point Fire Department logo displayed on the sides, as a tribute to firefighters Jim Ludlum and Brian Busch, who were killed the day before.
Thursday's events unfolded in a similar way.
Mineral Point was trailing by as much as 14 points but battled back, out-scoring the Cubans, 46-27, in the second half to seal the deal.
The game was back-and-forth to start, as there were nine lead changes.
After a basket by senior Bodie Bossert gave the Pointers a 10-9 lead, Cuba City went on a seven-point run that included baskets by Carter Olson and Ian Hinderman.
The Cubans had a balanced scoring attack, led by Olson, with 11.
Max Lucey scored eight in the first half, including a two-point basket to put Cuba City ahaead, 30-22, with just under three minutes left.
A pair of free throws by Cody Houtaker pushed their lead to 10.
Mineral Point senior Leyten Bowers converted a three-point play with a basket while he was fouled and made the ensuing free throw.
But Lucey did the same on the other end, keeping the Cubans on top by 10.
A couple free throws by Bossert and another basket by Bowers brought the score to 35-29, Cubans, at halftime.
Cuba City scored five points to start the second half, including a three-pointer by Mason Reese.
Reese would then drill another three after a two by Mineral Point senior Joah Filardo.
The Cubans took a 45-31 lead after a score by Hinderman with 14 minutes left in the game.
The Pointers didn't shy away, as they responded with a seven-point run that was sparked with a free throw by senior Bryce Acherman.
Filardo would then knock down two jumpers.
Bossert had a layup in transition following a steal.
After a couple free throws by Reese, Filardo got to the line and went two-for-two.
Senior Dominik McVay made a two-point basket and was fouled, but the free throw was no good.
Filardo brought the Pointers within two points with another basket.
Three straight baskets by Bowers would give Mineral Point a 51-49 lead with eight minutes to go.
The Pointers were finding momentum offensively, while holding the Cubans to low-percentage shots.
Down by nine, Cuba City's Lucey drilled a three, but Bowers answered with a three of his own with under two minutes left.
With 58 seconds remaining, Mineral Point senior Owen Ward brought down an offensive rebound and forced a jump ball to be called by the officials, which gave possession to the Pointers, with a 70-62 lead.
Down the stretch, Bowers went two-for-two from the free throw line, and Filardo made three-of-four to seal the win for Mineral Point.
Filardo ended with 31 points and scored 24 of them in the second half.
Bowers had 19, and Bossert had 13.
McVay added eight.
The Pointers made 16-of-18 attempts from the line.
Reese led Cuba City with 19 points.
Olson followed with 15, while Hinderman had 13.
Mineral Point head coach Dan Burreson stated, "Once again, our guys were resilent. We fall behind 45-31 but battled back again. It says a lot about our players and our depth."
"I was really pleased with our defensive effort, and I thought we did a great job getting the ball to the paint," said Burreson.
"Joah Filardo had a big second half. He is a senior who has been in a lot of situations, and he really stepped it up. Joah had 8 rebounds as well. Great job by Leyten Bowers and Bodie Bossert on both ends of the floor. Bodie led us with four assists. Dominik McVay was really solid offensively. Owen Ward was great on the boards, especially down the stretch; he had 12 rebounds, really good minutes off the bench by Tanner Goninen."
With the result, the Pointers won their 11th consecutive game and improved to 19-2, overall, and 10-1 in the SWAL, where they have sole possession of first place.
Mineral Point will play their final home game of the regular season Friday, Febuary 18 at 7:30 p.m. against Boscobel.
SCORE BY HALVES
Cuba City 35 27 62
Mineral Point 29 46 75
BOX SCORE
CUBA CITY 62: (fg-ft-tp) Ri. Rosenkranz 0-0-0, Olson 4-6-15, Re. Rosenkranz 0-0-0, Niles 0-1-1, Reese 5-4-19, Hinderman 6-1-13, Lucey 3-3-10, Houtaker 0-4-4. Totals- 18-19/26-62 Fouls- 16
MINERAL POINT 75: Ward 1-0-2, Bowers 7-4-19, McVay 4-0-8, Lindsey 0-0-0, Goninen 0-0-0, Bossert 4-5-13, Filardo 12-5-31, Acherman 0-2-2. Totals- 28-16/18-75 Fouls- 17
3 point goals:
CC (7)- Reese 5, Olson 1, Lucey 1
MP (3)- Filardo 2, Bowers 1