A 10–0 start was the beginning Platteville head coach Mike Huser had hoped for.
     Unfortunately, the early double–digit Hillmen lead was gone before the half ended in Friday’s SWC matchup with first-place Richland Center.
     The visiting Hornets outscored the Hillmen 47–30 over the final 23 minutes to pull away for a 47–40 victory that solidified Richland Center’s first-place standing and put a huge dent in Platteville’s SWC title hopes.
     The Hornets improved to 9–4 overall and 3–1 in league play, while the Hillmen fell to 6–9 overall and 2–4 in the SWC.
     Platteville’s switching defenses limited SWC leading-scorer Alex Mortimer to just three first-half points — all free throws — and had the Hillmen tied at the half 18–18.
     But the talented 6-foot-6 wing, scored 12 of his game-high 15 points in Richland Center’s 23–9 run that spilled into the fourth quarter.
     Senior point guard Derek Schambow, who scored four points on breakaway layups in Platteville’s 10–0 opening burst, scored while being fouled 1:07 into the third quarter to give Platteville its largest lead of the second half at 22–18.
     Then Mortimer took over. The lanky senior scored back-to-back layups to tie the game, then assisted on Richland Center’s next two baskets.
     He scored on a tough bank shot with 3:53 left in the third quarter to make it 30–26, then scored a driving layup to give the Hornets a six-point lead.
     Platteville made a brief 5–0 run on a turnaround jumper by Adam Brogley and a 3-pointer by William Cooley, to pull within three at 34–31.
     But Mortimer had the answer once again. He tipped in his own miss with 33 seconds left in the third quarter, then scored the first basket of the fourth  quarter on another tip-in to make it 38–31.
     Mortimer finished with a game-high 17 rebounds, three blocks and three assists. He is averaging 19.6 points per game and is the early favorite to win the league’s 2014 Player of the Year award.
     Brogley finished with a team-high 10 points and six rebounds to lead Platteville. Schambow and junior Blake Wagner added nine points.
     Last Tuesday the Hillmen blew a 39–36 fourth quarter lead when Galena outscored Platteville 20–9 in the final eight minutes to steal a non-conference win.
     Senior Tanner Ames paced Platteville with 13 points.

Galena 56, Platteville 48
(from Tuesday, Jan. 21 @ Galena)
Platteville    10    11    18      9     —  48
Galena           9    11    16    20     —  56
Platteville (6–8) — Derek Schambow 8, Tanner Ames 13, Jesse Gardner 6, William Cooley 6, Blake Wagner 6, Chance Kupersmith 3, Adam Brogley 4. Totals — 17 12-27 48.
Galena — Hulscher 7, Westemeier 9, Peebles 13, Soat 5, Wubben 15, Ward 6, Bingham 1. Totals — 19 12-16 56.
3-point goals — P: 2 (Gardner 2): G: 6 (Hulscher 3, Westemeier 1, Peebles 1, Wubben 1). Team fouls — P: 16, G: 20. Fouled out — none.

Richland Center 47, Platteville 40
(from Friday, Jan. 24 @ Platteville)
Richland Center    4    14    18    11     —  47
Platteville            10      8    13      9     —  40
Richland Center (9–4, 3–1) — Breininger 4, Stanek 9, Adnerson 7, Johnson 4, Mortimer 15, Haas 8. Totals — 15 14-21 47.
Platteville (6–9, 2–4) — Derek Schambow 9, Tanner Ames 6, William Cooley 4, Blake Wagner 9, Chance Kupersmith 2, Adam Brogley 10. Totals — 17 4-7 40.
3-point goals — RC: 3 (Stanek 3); P: 2 (Schambow 1, Cooley 1). Team fouls — RC: 14, P: 20. Fouled out — P: Wagner.