POTOSI — It’s been a busy week for the Potosi boys’ basketball team, which played four games in a span of seven days going back to last Tuesday night’s home game against visiting Cassville.
The Chieftains pulled out a 65–53 victory over the Comets, and got their head coach Mike Uppena his 200th career win in this his 15th season.
“It’s about the kids for me,” said coach Uppena of the accomplishment. “These are their wins, these aren’t my wins, to be honest with you. The kids are the ones that get all the credit.”
Tuesday night’s contest saw Potosi hold a 35–23 halftime lead, only to see the Comets chip away at their deficit to pull within four points in the second half.
The Chieftains were able to pull away once more late in the game, accounting for the 12-point victory.
“Cassville just kept coming and fighting, and that was a game of runs,” said coach Uppena. “I give credit to Cassville. They kept fighting and kept attacking.”
The biggest difference in the game was turnovers. Potosi had 13 that led to five points for the Comets, while Cassville committed 22 turnovers that resulted in 25 points for the Chieftains.
Leading Potosi with 19 points and 11 rebounds was junior Alex Udelhofen, while sophomore Brady Curtis added 15 points, and fellow sophomore Ethan Groom 10. Chipping in eight points each were sophomore Will Bierman and freshman Nick Edge.
Junior Nic Spriggs had seven rebounds to go along with five points, while Bierman also dished out eight assists and Curtis had four steals.
Mason Infield led Cassville with 23 points and six rebounds, while fellow sophomore Ty Bausch added 10 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
In non-conference action the following Thursday night, coach Uppena took his Chieftains to neighboring Lancaster (5–11), where they defeated the Flying Arrows, 48–40.
Spriggs led the Chieftains with 13 points and two steals, while Groom and Curtis each finished with 11 points in the win.
Pulling down a team-high 18 rebounds was Udelhofen, who also had a team-high five assists and two steals to go along with four points.
On the following Friday night, the Chieftains traveled to South Wayne to take on a very tough Black Hawk team in a Six Rivers East/West Crossover contest.
The Warriors (13–3), who have great size and range, cruised to an 88–70 win after building a 54–38 advantage at the half.
“Black Hawk is for real,” said coach Uppena. “They’re so tall and lanky, and they can shoot it from anywhere.”
Against the Warriors, Groom led Potosi with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Udelhofen added 17 points, Spriggs 14 and Nick Edge 11.
This past Monday night, Potosi hosted Mineral Point, which left town with a 65–54 non-conference victory.
Curtis finished the night with a team-high 16 points, while Udelhofen added 14. Pulling down a team-high eight rebounds was Groom, while Jaydon Carbone came away with a team-high two steals.
This Thursday night, the Chieftains (12–7, 6–3) will travel to Benton (9–9, 3–6).
Potosi 65, Cassville 53
(from Tuesday, Jan. 31 @ Potosi)
Cassvillle 23 30 — 53
Potosi 35 30 — 65
Cassville (2–12, 2–5) — Ty Bausch 10, Jack Jenson 5, Mason Infield 23, Colin Esser 6, Brandon Kinyon 9. Totals 18 15-21 53.
Potosi (11–5, 6–3) — Alex Udelhofen 19, Will Bierman 8, Brady Curtis 15, Nick Spriggs 5, Ethan Groom 10, Nick Edge 8. Totals 22 16-21 65.
3-point goals — C: 2 (Bausch 1, Infield 1); P: 5 (Bierman 2, Curtis 2, Groom 1). Team fouls — C: 16, P: 17. Fouled out — C: Esser; P: Spriggs.
Potosi 48, Lancaster 40
(from Thursday, Feb. 2 @ Lancaster)
Potosi 15 33 — 48
Lancaster 8 31 — 40
Potosi (12–5) — Alex Udelhofen 4, Will Bierman 6, Brady Curtis 11, Nick Spriggs 13, Ethan Groom 11, Nick Edge 3. Totals 17-57 10-19 48.
Lancaster (5–11) — Tanner Reuter 10, Jalen Schmitz 9, Austin Mumm 8, Jordan Reuter 6, Evan Gates 5, Drew Reuter 2. Totals - 17-44, 4-10 40.
3-point goals — P: 4 (Curtis 3, Groom 1); L: 2 (Schmitz 1, Gates 1). Team fouls — P: 15, L: 17. Fouled out — none.
Black Hawk 88, Potosi 70
(from Friday, Feb. 3 @ South Wayne)
Potosi 38 32 — 70
Black Hawk 54 34 — 88
Potosi (12–6) — Ethan Groom 20, Alex Udelhofen 17, Nic Spriggs 14, Nick Edge 11, Jaydon Carbone 6, Will Bierman 2. Totals — 27-63 7-14 70.
Black Hawk (13–3) — Colby Argall 3, Jason Truethardt 2, Kyle Lovelace 6, Jett Rufenacht 8, Josh Meier 18, Michael Flanagan 5, Jared Knapp 2, Conner Meyer 21, CJ Leuzinger 23. Totals 33 11-19 88.
3-point goals — P: 9 (Groom 4, Spriggs 3, Edge 1, Carbone 1); BH: 11 (Lovelace 2, Rufenacht 1, Meyer 1, Leuzinger 7). Team fouls — P: 17, BH: 11. Fouled out — none.
Mineral Point 65, Potosi 54
(from Monday, Feb. 6 @ Potosi)
Mineral Point 29 36 — 65
Potosi 25 29 — 54
Mineral Point (12–5) — Lindsey 22, Wendhausen 15, Warrick 9, Steffes 8, Gorgen 7, Dailey 3, Berget 1. Totals — 19-51 22-32 65.
Potosi (12–7) — Brady Curtis 16, Alex Udelhofen 14, Nic Spriggs 7, Ethan Groom 7, Nick Edge 5, Will Bierman 3, Austin Schmitz 2. Totals — 20-61 9-14 54.
3-point goals — MP: 4 (Lindsey 3, Gorgen 1); P: 5 (Curtis 3, Spriggs 1, Edge 1). Team fouls — MP: 16, P: 24. Fouled out — P: Groom, Bierman.
