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If the Dodgeville boys basketball team could change anything about their 62-59 win at Richland Center Friday it would have been more success at the free throw line.
The Dodgers got their often and shot 30 for the night. But for some reason they could only coax 14 of them to go in. That computes to 42% in an area where at least 70% is the goal.
The Dodgers shot 13 in the last 1:19 when they had a 56-48 lead and the Hornets had to foul. They made six of them which, in the end, proved to be just enough.
Dillon Garthwaite and Matthew Pittz were the ones who got to the line and put in three each to provide the winning margin.
But while the line was unkind much of the night the area under the basket was not. That area was patrolled by 7-0 junior Chandler Batchelor who put in nine baskets, some of them rebounds and some on lobs from his teammates. One of his baskets was an under the basket dunk and his 18 points led the Dodgers.
There was more to the big man's game than just his offense. He hauled in some big rebounds and swatted away several shots.
Batchelor put in 10 first half points with Dillon Garthwaite adding nine as the Dodgers took a 35-26 lead into intermission. Garthwaite ended up with 14 points and Pittz added 13 for the night.
The Hornets closed the gap late in the game. It started with a three pointer from Alex Johnson with 2:30 left followed by a lay-in by Leif Fingerson then Sam Bosworth scored on a putback.
They also got a lay-in from Konner Ellenson and finished with five straight free throws, two by Tyler Rizner and three straight on a foul on a three pointer when Fingerson was nudged on a three point attempt.
But while they struggled from the line, the Dodgers put in enough free throws to win.
Johnson netted 22 to lead the Hornets while Rizner added 13 and Fingerson 12.
The Hornets had a shot at the buzzer, a three point try to tie, that went in and out.
While the end result was a close game the Dodgers had a cushion for most of the contest.
"We controlled the game for the most part after a brief early push from RC but we could never push it quite far enough where we felt we had it wrapped up," coach Matt McGraw said.. "Free throws were a major factor. We shot very poorly from the line which could have cost us more than it did. Instead it kept the game close...too close."
While it was a tough win it was a big win and keeps the Dodgers undefeated in the SWC and in first place.
"Bottom line is we came out with the win and good teams find a way to win even when things are not going perfectly. We did that tonight," McGraw said.
McGraw said his 7-0 center was a big factor in the win as the Hornets had no answer for him and could not establish and inside game with him guarding the lane.
"Huge game for "Big Chan." McGraw said. "Our guys did the best job they have done all year of finding him and Chandler finished a high percentage including a solid dunk in the first half. He is progressing and it is fun to see."
Heading down the final stretch of the season McGraw knows the Dodgers are facing a huge test.
"We have a real touch stretch of games including some D2 opponents, tough conference games and a ranked D4 team coming to town. We are really going to see what we are made of."
SCORE BY HALVES
Dodgeville 35 27 62
Richland Center 26 33 59
BOX SCORE
DODGEVILLE 62 (fg-ft-tp) Pittz 3-6-13, Walker 2-2-6, Keith 2-1-5, Garthwaite 5-2-14, Wasley 1-1-3, Busch 1-0-3, Batchelor 9-0-18 Totals 23-12/32-62 Fouls-14
RICHLAND CENTER 59: Rizner 4-3-13, Fingerson 6-0-12, Ellenson 1-4-6, Puls 0-0-0, Johnson 7-2-22, Bosworth 2-2-6, Fogo 0-0-0 Totals 20-11/15-59. Fouls-25 Fouled out-Ellenson
3 point goals:
D (3)-Pittz 1, Busch 1, Garthwaite 2
RC (8)-Johnson 6, Rizner 2