GAME OF THE WEEK (June 26–July 3)
SIX RIVERS CONFERENCE BOYS BASKETBALL ALL-STAR GAME: West 65, East 63
ARGYLE — On a hot and humid night at Argyle High School, the East girls and the West boys remained cool to the end and came away victorious at the 14th annual Six Rivers Conference Senior All-Star Basketball Classic held on Friday, June 28.
The West boys All-Stars rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat the East on the final basket of the game, 65–63, as the West boys snapped a three-game slide at the Classic.
Cassville’s Mason Infield knocked down the go-ahead basket with 10 seconds remaining as the West rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat the East All-Stars 65–63 in the Boys’ All-Star game.
After trailing 41–32 at the intermission, the West fought back to take their largest lead of the night at 60–57 on a basket by Cassville’s Ty Bausch with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
The East answered back with back-to-back baskets by Monticello’s Jeffrey Ace and a pair of free throws by Pecatonica’s Jaden Hendrickson to regain the lead at 63–60 with 2:29 to play.
The East would not score again as they missed the front end of a bonus opportunity and turned the ball over four times in the final 75 seconds of the game to open the door for a West comeback.
Potosi’s Ethan Groom, who scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the first half to keep the West close, cut the deficit to 63–62. A turnover by the East with 30 seconds to go got the ball back into the West’s hands, and Infield came through in the clutch by sinking a contest jumper in the lane with just 10 seconds remaining to put the West in the lead to stay at 64–63.
The East turned the ball back over to the West with five seconds to go. Benton’s Brooks Tiedeman was fouled with 3.7 seconds remaining, but missed his bonus free throw, however Groom came down with the rebound and he got the ball to Potosi teammate Brady Curtis. Curtis was fouled with 1.2 to go and made one of two free throws to extend the lead to 65–63.
The East had one last chance to come away with the win after getting the inbound pass into the hands of Barneveld’s Malcolm Reed, but his 3/4-court heave at the final horn bounced hard off the backboard leaving the West to post their first victory since 2015.
Reed scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the opening half to lead the East, who were held to just three 3-pointers and 22 points in the second half by the West.
The East out-shot the West from beyond the 3-point arc in the game, 12–3, but the West was better from inside the arc topping the East 25–11 on 2-pointers.
Groom finished with 17 points to lead the West. Klotz, Tiedeman and Curtis each scored eight points along with Potosi’s Will Bierman to aid a balanced West attack. Infield (six points) and Shullsburg’s Alex Wand (four) scored all their points in the second half to held the West rally.
The East girls’ All-Star team led from the opening basket of the game, but had to hold on late to defeat the West All-Stars, 39–31, to also snap a three-game losing streak.
The West girls and East boys still own a 10–4 all-time series record over their counterparts during the 14-year history of the event.
In the sixth annual 3-point shooting contest, the West boys sank 25 treys during to rally past the East, 117–90, to even the all-time series to 3–3.
For the 14th year in a row, the true winner of the night was American Family Children’s Hospital, which received a generous donation of nearly $1,300 on behalf of the Six Rivers Conference from the proceeds of the gate and concession sales. In the 14-year history of the All-Star event, the Six Rivers Conference has donated more than $20,000 to the Children’s Hospital.
“We are so proud to continue our affiliation with to the Children’s Hospital,” said Black Hawk girls’ basketball coach and event organizer Michael Flanagan. “It has been a great partnership and a testament to the generosity of our conference and the families who make up the Six Rivers. A huge shout out comes out to all who made [Friday] night’s event a success. We also want to note our appreciation to Travis Erickson and the Argyle School District for their flexibility in hosting on short notice”
Boys’ All-Star Game
West 65, East 63
West All-Stars....32 33 — 65
East All-Stars.....41 22 — 63
West — Mason Infield (Cassville) 6, Blake Crubel (River Ridge) 2, Will Bierman (Potosi) 8, Alex Wand (Shullsburg) 4, Ty Bausch (Cassville) 2, Brady Curtis (Potosi) 8, Brooks Tiedeman (Benton) 8, Kyle Klotz (Shullsburg) 8, Ethan Groom (Potosi) 17, Kaleb Hauk (Cassville) 2. Total — 28 6-16 65.
East — Malcolm Reed (Barneveld) 20, Jeffrey Ace (Monticello) 10, Jaden Hendrickson (Pecatonica) 8, Quinton Kammerer (Juda) 3, Josh Dahl (Albany) 6, Kyle Lovelace (Black Hawk) 3, Zack Eaton (Pecatonica) 0, Corbin Kelley (Albany) 0, Dayne Evans (Barneveld) 6, Jamison Stauffacher (Albany) 7. Totals — 23 5-12 63.
3-pointers — West: 3 (Bierman 2, Curtis 1); East: 12 (Reed 3, Ace 2, Evans 2, Hendrickson 1, Kammerer 1, Lovelace 1, Dahl 1, Stauffacher 1).
