ARGYLE – Junior guard Merik Meythaler scored six of his season-high 18 points from the foul line in the fourth quarter as Black Hawk converted 11 of their 17 free throw attempts in the quarter to sink Argyle, 49-40, in a hard-fought Six Rivers East boys’ basketball game at AHS on Friday, Feb. 10.
    Meythaler added four 3-point baskets in the game and junior forward Cory Rupnow added four points in both the first and third quarters on the way to a 10-point night for the Warriors.
    Black Hawk (9-10 overall, 5-4 in SRE) held a slim 26-25 lead over the Orioles (3-17, 0-10) at halftime, but doubled up the hosts in the third quarter, 10-5, to open up some breathing room before putting the game away at the foul line down the stretch.
    Hayden Schliem, Coltin Piefer and Seth Butler all added six points for the Warriors, while Alec Treuthardt’s 12 points and Christopher Severson’s 11 led the Orioles. 
    At South Wayne, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, the host Warriors gave the #5-ranked Barneveld Golden Eagles all they could handle for a half, but Eagles senior center Sam Nechkash took over the show in the second half to lead the guests to a 59-34 victory.
    The Warriors held a two-point lead at the end of the first quarter and were still within three of the Eagles (9-1, 18-2) at halftime when Nechkash charged out of the locker room and put his team on his back.
    The 6’7” senior scored 15 points during Barneveld’s 17-0 run to start the second half with a 3-pointer and a dramatic slam dunk, and he added four rebounds, two steals, two assists and two blocked shots in the third quarter alone to turn a three-point Eagle lead into a 20-point advantage.
    Nechkash finished with a game-high 28 points to lead Barneveld. Cuyler Meier, Kyle Walters and Merik Meythaler led the Warriors with six points apiece.
    At Hanover, Ill., on Saturday, Feb. 11, the Warriors outscored River Ridge (Ill.) by a 23-16 margin in the second half to force overtime, but got outscored 13-8 by the Wildcats in the extra session to fall 62-57 in a thrilling non-conference contest.
    Black Hawk had been unbeaten this season against teams from Illinois until Saturday’s loss to River Ridge, which dropped them to 3-1 in the border battles.
    Merik Meythaler led the Warriors with 14 points, while Seth Butler netted a season-high 13 points and Coltin Piefer added a season-high 12 points for the Warriors.
    Black Hawk hosts Monticello on Thursday, Feb. 16, and heads to Juda on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in upcoming SRE action.

Black Hawk… 12  14  10  13 - 49
Argyle……..… 12  13    5  10 - 40
Leading Scorers: Merik Meythaler 18, Cory Rupnow 10, Hayden Schliem 6, Coltin Piefer 6, Seth Butler 6, Kyle Walters 2, Cuyler Meier 1.

Barneveld...… 11  12  22  14 - 59
Black Hawk… 13    7    5    9 - 34
Leading Scorers: Cuyler Meier 6, Kyle Walters 6, Merik Meythaler 6, Hayden Schliem 5, Coltin Piefer 4, Cory Rupnow 2, Kyle Woodruff 2, Seth Butler 2, Noah Thomson 1.

Black Hawk…… 13  13  9  14    8 - 57
River Ridge Ill… 19  14  7    9  13 - 62
Leading Scorers: Merik Meythaler 14, Seth Butler 13, Coltin Piefer 12, Cory Rupnow 8, Kyle Woodruff 6, Kyle Walters 4.