With 13 minutes left the Barneveld boys basketball team shot to a 20 point lead, 44-24 over Fall River.
When the final buzzer sounded that margin remained and the Golden Eagles ended the season for the Pirates 66-46.
Hunter Larson was a one man wrecking crew the second half with 21 of his game high 23 points. He strung together some three pointers that quickly put distance between the two teams.
Judson Poad drilled a trio of three pointers and also reached double figures for the Eagles with 11.
Six players scored for the Eagles. The Pirates, a team with length, got a 20 point performance from Kaden Seim. The Pirates had reached the WIAA Division 5 Regional semis by eliminating Argyle Tuesday.
Next up for the Eagles was Saint Ambrose, a team with a 20-6 record and a win over Randolph. That Regional final was Saturday at Barneveld.
Friday’s win was not as easy as it appeared as it was close the first half and it took three triples during a second half run to put distance between the two teams. Eagles coach Tyler Sullivan was relieved the team put up a strong effort.
“Man our guys battled tonight,” Sullivan said after the game. “Tonight was definitely one of our best defensive efforts, and ultimately led to us getting a big win. The way we talked, helped and rotated was awesome.”
Negating the size advantage brought by the Pirates was part of Sullivan’s game plan for the Eagles. “They had two bigs that were athletic and tough around the rim, and we did a great job for the most part,” pointed out Sullivan. “I was a little worried about rebounding the ball, but our guys bought in and got after it.”
Sullivan said the offense smoothed out as the game progressed.
“Offensively I thought we got a little ahead of ourselves in possessions in the first half, but we were able to make some big shots and had a lead at the break. Second half we executed our game plan adjustments at halftime and got some big stops and strung some shots together to extend our lead.”
It was the defense that ended up to be the big factor.”
“Ultimately our defensive pressure got to them, and we were able to wear them down as the second half went on.” Sullivan said. “We guaranteed ourselves one more game together, and I am so excited for that.” SCORE BY HALVES
Fall River 22 24 4
Barneveld 30 36 66
BOX SCORE
FALL RIVER 46: (fg-ft-tp) Samplawski 2-0-5, Abeggler 3-0-6, Seim 7-5-20, Rozinski 2-0-5, Osterhaus 0- 0-0, Waterworth 2-0-4, Bobholz 3-0-
6, Kreuger 0-0-0. Totals 19-5/12-46 Fouls-8
BARNEVELD 66: Shipman 0-0- 0, Schlimgen 0-0-0, Jasinski 2-2-7, Durst 4-0-8, Schauff 2-0-5, Beicher 0-0-0, Larson 9-2-24, Doescher 0-0- 0, Genrich 0-0-0, Poad 4-0-11, Thousand 4-0-9. Leuzinger 1-0- Totals 26- 4/7-66. Fouls-15
3 point goals:
FR-Samplawski 1, Seim 1, Rozinski 1
B-Larson 4, Poad 3, Jasinski 1, Schauff 1, Thousand 1
