Iowa-Grant’s boys basketball team had a solid performance when they played Cuba City at Jerry Pettitgoue Gym Thursday which was what the team was looking for to close out the SWAL season with a win.
The Panthers took a one point lead at halftime and turned it into a 73-68 win. Both teams made 10 three pointers to keep it close.
Panthers coach Shawn Dailey knew the game had little meaning in the conference standings but it did have a bearing on the culture the Panthers have been building.
“We had set 15 wins as a goal for the season,” Dailey said. The win put them at 15-9.
Add to that the fact the Panthers were sure the Cubans would be a possibility as an opponent in the early stages of the post season. That happened when the Cubans beat Prairie du Chien to open their post season run and set up a meeting with the Panthers.
“All that gave us motivation,” Dailey said.
The Panthers did have some adversity to contend with when starter Everett Zimmer could not make the trip due to illness. But the Panthers had the right person to take his place.
Enter Tyler Schultz who took the starting role and promptly entered into a shootout with Cuba City’s Cameryn Guler. Both netted six three pointers with Guler taking scoring honors for the Cubans with 23 and Schultz putting in 20 for I-G. Schultz got the Panthers rolling with six threes the first half.
“I couldn’t be happier for Tyler,” Dailey said. “He is a kid who is always getting extra shooting in outside of practice. He really seized the opportunity.”
His effort helped the Panthers to a 41-40 halftime lead.
Treaton Loeffelholz also played into the outcome with a double double. He put in 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
“Treaton leads the SWAL in rebounding,” Dailey pointed out. “He had a monster game.”
Dailey also commented on the play of SWAL assist leader Sam Lundell.
“He had six assists and only one turnover,” Dailey said.
Lundell and Grant Rickard both hit double digits with 12 points.
“Sweeping Cuba City was a pretty big deal for us as was getting a win at their place,” Dailey said.
“We are playing with confidence and executing our game plans to perfection on both ends of the court,” Dailey said.”That is where you want to be for the post season.’
SCORE BY HALVES
Iowa-Grant 41 32 73
Cuba City 40 28 68
BOX SCORE
IOWA-GRANT 73: (fg-ft-tp) Schultz 6-2-20, Friesen 5-0-10, Lundell 3-5-12, Rickard 6-0-12, Fisher 0-0-0, Lange 1-0-3, Loeffelholz 5-4- 16. Totals 26-11/16-73
CUBA CITY 68: Nicely 0-0-0, Collins 1-0-2, Teasdale 1-0-3, Kieler 5-7-18, Loeffelholz 1-1-3, Van Natta 6-1-14, Guler 8-1-23, Runde 1-0-2, Furrer 0-0-0, Graber 0-0-0, Geyer 1- 0-3. Totals 24-10/18-68. Fouls-16 Fouled out-Loeffelholz, Geyer
3 point goals:
I-G-Schultz 6, Loeffelholz 2, Lundell 1, Lange 1-0-3
CC-Guler 6. Geyer 1. Teasdale 1, Van Natta 1, Kieler 1