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By Levi Zimmerman
Seventh-ranked Mineral Point boys basketball welcomed the Southwestern Wildcats to town for a Southwest Wisconsin Activities League matchup Friday.
Although they trailed by three at halftime, the Pointers stepped up, especially defensively, and scored a 64-54 victory, ending Southwestern's six-game winning streak.
Mineral Point started the action with a steal-and-score by senior Joah Filardo, then senior Bodie Bossert made a three-point field goal on an assist from senior Owen Ward.
A three-point field goal by Southwestern's Peerson Kephart got the Wildcats on the scoreboard.
The Pointers shared the ball well from the start, as seniors Dominik McVay and Leyten Bowers scored two-point shots to go up, 9-3.
But the Wildcats stayed within striking distance, as Kephart drilled another three-pointer to bring the score to 14-10.
After a two-point score by Bowers, Kephart sank another three-pointer to get Southwestern within two.
The three's would continue to fall, as Colson Splinter made one in the next possession to give the Wildcats a 20-19 lead with 7:38 left in the first half.
McVay tied it at 23 with a layup following a steal; he went on to assist Bowers on a three-point basket to put Mineral Point ahead by three.
Four straight points by Southwestern would give them a slim one-point lead, but Bowers, as he did throughout the first half, ended the scoring run with a two-point basket.
Southwestern took a 33-30 lead into the break after Anthony Martin drilled a three-pointer, which marked seven, three's for the Wildcats in the half.
in the second half, Southwestern led by as much as five, after two free throws by Nate Reiff, but the Pointers went on a tear, scoring nine straight.
Senior Bryce Acherman had four points in the paint, Filardo knocked down a three and Bowers had a two.
Mineral Point went ahead by 10 after back-to-back three-point plays by Filardo and Bowers.
Filardo made a shot from behind the arc, while Bowers made a two-point shot while being fouled and made the free throw to convert an and-one play.
The Pointers' defensive efforts held the Wildcats to just four points in the first six minutes, then to four again through another six minutes.
McVay continued to get high-percentage shot attempts for Mineral Point, as he dished-out three assists, two to Eli Lindsey and one to Tanner Goninen, to keep the Pointers' lead at double digits.
Southwestern showed signs of life late, with a five-point run to bring the score to 57-52 with under a minute remaining.
But the Pointers made enough free throws down the stretch to seal the deal.
Bowers has ramped-up offensive production as of late, and he went for 21 points Friday, including two, three's.
Filardo scored 16, including two, three's, and he was four-for-four from the strike.
McVay added eight points, and Bossert had six, as did Acherman.
Kephart led Southwestern with 17 points, including four, three-pointers, all in the first half.
Reiff followed with 13 and was seven-of-13 in free throw attempts.
Martin added 10 points.
With the win, the Pointers improved to 12-2, overall, and 5-1 in the SWAL, which is good enough for second place in the standings, overtaking the Wildcats.
Mineral Point head coach Dan Burreson said he liked the contributions across the roster and highlighted some players.
"Leyten Bowers continues to play really well. He led us in points and rebounds with 21 and seven. Really solid night by Joah Filardo 16 points and some key shots. Dominik McVay continues to do a great job seeing the floor and hitting the open man. Solid night by Bodie Bossert defensively. He has become one of our better perimeter defenders. All three of our post guys did a great job defensively: Owen Ward, Bryce Acherman and Eli Lindsey. Bryce had a couple big hoops, and Eli really understands the game. Tanner Goninen had big minutes off the bench, especially when Leyten fouled out," Burreson stated.
He added, "I liked how we handled things down the stretch, took care of the ball and made some free throws."
Obviously, there are going to be some close games inside and outside the league."
After five consecutive conference games, the Pointers will host Iowa-Grant in another SWAL battle Thursday after a non-conference matchup with New Glarus Monday.
SCORE BY HALVES
Southwestern 33 21 54
Mineral Point 30 34 64
BOX SCORE
SOUTHWESTERN 54: (fg-ft-tp) Kephart 6-1-17, Jochum 0-2-2, Stanton 0-0-0, Mess 1-0-2, Splinter 1-1-4, Brotzman 2-1-6, Reiff 3-7-13, Martin 4-1-10. Totals- 17-13/24-54 Fouls- 19 Fouled out- Martin
MINERAL POINT 64: Ward 0-1-1, Bowers 9-1-21, McVay 3-2-8, Lindsey 2-0-4, Goninen 1-0-2, Bossert 2-1-6, Filardo 5-4-16, Acherman 3-0-6. Totals- 25-9/16-64 Fouls- 17
Fouled out- Bowers
3 point goals:
SW (7)- Kephart 4, Martin 1, Brotzman 1, Splinter 1
MP (5)- Bowers 2, Filardo 2, Bossert 1