POTOSI — The Potosi Chieftains gave visiting Cuba City all they could handle last Tuesday night in a non-conference boys’ basketball contest.
Coach Mike Uppena’s squad suffered a 61–57 loss to the Cubans, dropping them to 2–3 on the season, while remaining 2–1 in the Six Rivers West conference.
Cuba City improved to 4–2 on the year and is sitting at 2–1 in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League.
After sophomore Blake Robson beat the first half buzzer with a runner in the lane, Cuba City clung to a 32–31 lead. But Potosi quickly erased early in the second half.
Five points by Jake Langkamp and two in the lane from Nathan Friederick, kick started a 7–0 Potosi run to start the second half, giving the Chieftains a 38–32 advantage.
Langkamp drilled a three-pointer from the corner on an inbound play and Friederick added a pair of free throws with 8:40 left to make it 46–42.
The Cubans took a slim one-point lead 49–48 advantage on a pair of free throws by Noah Sander with 5:05 to play.
Potosi’s Nic Spriggs drilled a clutch three-pointer to give the Chieftains a 52–50 lead at the 3:59 mark, which was their last of the game. From that point on, Potosi was outscored 11–5.
Ben Burkholder tied the game with a layup, then Robson got loose for a breakaway that gave Cuba City a 54–52 lead. Burkholder added another basket in the paint with 1:46 left, and the Cubans converted on 3 of 4 free throw attempts in the final 17 seconds to escape with the win.
The Chieftains were led by Langkamp, who finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Friederick added 13 points and eight boards, while sophomore guard Alex Udelhofen chipped in eight points and a team-high 13 boards.
Senior guard Tyler Udelhoven led the team with three assists and three steals.
As a team, the Chieftains shot just 30 percent (18 of 61) from the field, including 24 percent (6 of 25) from downtown. They were 15 of 20 (75 percent) from the free throw line, committed 17 turnovers and came away with five steals.
The Potosi boys will next be in action on Monday, Jan. 4, when they host Lancaster (3–3), then will resume league action on Tuesday, Jan. 5, when they travel to Highland (0–5, 0–2 Six Rivers West).
Cuba City 61, Potosi 57
(from Tuesday, Dec. 22 @ Potosi)
Cuba City 32 29 — 61
Potosi 31 26 — 57
Cuba City (4–2) — Blake Robson 12, Justin Droessler 8, Nathan Timmerman 4, Ben Burkholder 22, Noah Sander 2, Adam Kane 2, Chris Moor 11. Totals — 19 20–32 61.
Potosi (2–3) — Alex Udelhofen 8, Nick Spriggs 7, Ryan Schmitz 5, Dylan Pluemer 6, Nate Friederick 13, Jake Langkamp 16, Tyler Udelhoven 2. Totals — 18 15-20 61.
3-point goals — CC: 3 (Robson 1, Burkholder 1, Moor 1); P: 5 (Spriggs 1, Schmitz 1, Friederick 1, Langkamp 2). Team fouls — P: 17, CC: 20. Fouled out — P: Spriggs, Friederick.
