PLATTEVILLE — Platteville closed out 2017 with a ninth consecutive victory, toppling Barneveld 60–31 Thursday afternoon in its second game of the third annual Girls Candy Cane Classic.
The rotating holiday tournament was held at Mineral Point and Richland Center its first two years.
Top-ranked Platteville (9–1) raced out to a commanding 25–5 lead and extended it to 46–17 by halftime. The Hillmen had 12 steals, 17 assists and forced 25 turnovers in the game against the overwhelmed Golden Eagles (4–7).
Sophomore guard Becca Hoyer led Platteville with a career-high 20 points on 9 of 15 shooting from the field. Classmate Sami Martin chipped in with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals and only missed one shot in the game going 8 of 9 from the floor and 2 of 2 from the free throw stripe.
Senior forward Sami Knockel added six points and four boards, while sophomore point guard Josie Nies scored five points and passed out a game-high six assists without committing a turnover.
The Hillmen opened the Candy Cane Classic with another dominating 67–32 victory over Living Word Lutheran on Wednesday night.
Platteville again jetted out to a comfortable 45–16 halftime advantage and was never threatened.
Martin finished with a game-high 18 points, a team-best six rebounds and three assists. Hoyer had 13 points, four rebounds, and four steals, and Nies also scored 13 points.
Senior Skye Digman added 10 points, four boards and three steals, and classmate Hanna Langmeier chipped in four points and a team-high eight steals.
The Hillmen collected 24 steals as a team and forced 40 turnovers.
Platteville has outscored each of its opponents by at least 21 points and an average of 30.8 points during its nine-game winning streak since a 61–56 non-conference loss at Dubuque Hempstead on Nov. 17.
Coach Brandon Temperly’s Hillmen will face a challenge Friday night when they travel to Dodgeville. The Dodgers, who are ranked 10th in the latest Division 3 coaches poll, are off to an 8–1 start and are tied for first-place in the SWC at 3–0.
NCAA Division II recruit Hannah Jones is averaging a conference-best 22.1 points per game, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest.
Platteville Holiday Jamboree
Platteville 67,
Living Word Lutheran 32
(from Wednesday, Dec. 27 @ Platteville)
Living Word Lutheran 45 22 — 67
Platteville 16 16 — 32
Living Word Lutheran (3–5) — Bruss 4, Wink 2, Juerganson 7, Walker 10, DuFour 9. Totals – 10 11-20 32.
Platteville (8–1) — Josie Nies 13, Rachel Bailie 1, Mia Bernhardt 1, Becca Hoyer 11, Courtney Budden 2, Hanna Langmeier 4, Sami Martin 18, Izzy Carroll 2, Skye Digman 12, Allie Cooley 1. Totals — 26 13-21 67.
3-point goals — LW: 1 (Juerganson 1), P: 2 (Nies 1, Bernhardt 1). Total fouls — LW: 14; P: 22. Fouled out — P: Carroll.
Platteville Holiday Jamboree
Platteville 60, Barneveld 31
(from Thursday, Dec. 28 @ Platteville)
Barneveld 17 14 — 31
Platteville 46 14 — 60
Barneveld (4–7) — Schult 4, Leah Marx 4, Taryn Pickarts 13, Courtney Skaife 8, Brooklyn Hogan-Weier 2. Totals – 31.
Platteville (9–1) — Josie Nies 5, Becca Hoyer 20, Hanna Langmeier 3, Sami Martin 18, Izzy Carroll 2, Sami Knockel 6, Skye Digman 4, Allie Cooley 2. Totals — 27-58 5-11 60.
3-point goals — B: n/a, P: 1 (Hoyer 1). Total fouls — B: n/a; P: n/a. Fouled out — none
