MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Feb. 3–10)
SIX RIVERS WEST BOYS BASKETBALL: Cuba City 54, Boscobel 53
By Jason Nihles, Boscobel Dial / The Platteville Journal / Fennimore Times
Kieler, Cubans beat Bulldogs at the buzzer
CUBA CITY — Eight days after handing Cuba City a two-point win, the host Cubans returned the favor on a last-second 3-pointer from Hudson Kieler in a 54–53 SWAL win over Boscobel last Tuesday night.
Cuba City (7–12, 3–6 SWAL) went back-and-forth with the Bulldogs (6–12, 2–8) through most of the first half, claiming separate leads of as much as 3-and-5 points.
Boscobel closed the final eight minutes of the first half on a 15–4 run to build a 30–24 lead at the break.
The Bulldogs were hot out of the break, initially extending their advantage to 37–26 on a layup by sophomore Caleb Peterson with 13:30 left, before Cuba City began to rally.
Kieler used confusion in the paint during an inbound pass from the baseline to get wide open for a three at 11:09.
Boscobel still held a 41–31 lead with 8:17 left after a free throw by senior Carter Molzof.
A Cuba City 3-pointer, and a pair of free throws by Trevor VanNatta after a Boscobel technical foul made it a five-point game 41–36 a minute later.
VanNatta stayed hot with seven points in the final 2:30 on a free throw and a trio of field goals, the last of which was a driving leaner to trim Boscobel’s lead to 52–51 with just 20.9 seconds on the clock.
After Molzof split a pair of free throws to make it 53–51 with 15.9 left. Cuba City called a timeout following a jump ball after Molzof’s missed second free throw with 13.3 seconds to play.
VanNatta got the inbound pass and fired the ball to Landon Geyer outside the arc in front of the Cubans’ bench while the clock ticked to 10.5 seconds. The sophomore released a pass to Cameryn Guler at the top of the key less than a second later, who then got the ball to Kieler.
As the clock crossed the 7-second mark, VanNatta swung around the baseline to get a pass from a nearby Kieler on the left wing. The defender glued to Kieler broke off as VanNatta feigned driving to the hoop, leaving the former wide open.
Before Boscobel could regroup, VanNatta flipped a pass to Kieler, who fired a 25-foot 3-pointer from near the edge of the halfcourt “Cubans” logo on the floor and hit nothing but net.
The Bulldogs managed to beat the buzzer with a timeout with 0.6 seconds left after the ball cleared the net, giving them a final opportunity to score.
But sophomore Kiptyn Brown’s one-handed, three-quarter court shot missed the mark as the buzzer sounded.
Brown led the Bulldogs with 15 points on 4 of 12 from the field and 5 of 6 at the free throw line. Miller scored 12 points three 3-pointers, a two and a free throw.
While Kieler, hit the eventual game-winner, the contest was won — or better yet lost at the free throw line.
The Cubans converted 14 of 18 attempts at the line (77.8 percent), while the Bulldogs shot just 14 of 27 at the stripe (51.9 percent).
VanNatta and Kieler did the most offensive damage for Cuba City in the win, posting 21-and-17-point efforts, respectively, in their pursuit to lead all ballplayers. Kieler also led the Cubans with six rebounds, while VanNatta’s three assists and four steals were both team-bests.
Cuba City 54, Boscobel 53
(from Tuesday, Feb. 3 @ Boscobel)
Boscobel.....30 23 — 53
Cuba City.....24 30 — 54
Boscobel (6–10, 2–6) — Graydon Richter 3, Nathan Gunderson 2, Carter Molzof 8, Tyler Miller 12, Caleb Peterson 2, Kiptyn Brown 15, Gage Wayne 2, Jonah Knowles 9. Totals — 17 14-27 53.
Cuba City (6–11, 2–6) — Carson Collins 6, Hudson Kieler 17, Landon Loeffelholz 3, Trevor VanNatta 21, Cameryn Gulter 2, Landon Geyer 5. Totals — 18 14-18 54.
3-pointers — B: 5 (Miller 3, Brown 2); CC: 4 (Kieler 1, VanNatta 1, Geyer 1). Team Fouls — B: 19, CC: 25. Fouled out — CC: Collins. Technical foul — B: Peterson.
