DODGEVILLE — Platteville broke into the win column in conference play Saturday night with a 56–54 victory at SWC-leading Dodgeville spoiling the Dodgers’ Alumni Day honoring all five of the school’s state tournament teams.
     The Hillmen (5–6, 1–3 SWC) jumped out to a 10–point lead early in the game, but the Dodgers cut it to 33–29 at the half. 
     Dodgeville (4–8, 2–1) took its first lead of the game with 2:15 left on a layup by Levi Nagel.
     Platteville senior Tanner Ames scored a basket with a minute 1:57 left on a nice feed from fellow senior Derek Schambow as the Hillmen regained a one-point lead at 55–54.
     The Hillmen defense held, but Platteville missed two free throws with a minute left. 
     Dodgeville turned it over on its following possession. Schambow made 1 of 2 free throws with 13 seconds left and Jason Gullickson missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer as Platteville escaped with the two-point win.
     “I thought we really came out ready to play really shared the basketball,” said Platteville head coach Mike Huser. “We had 15 assists and played in really good rhythms the whole game. Getting our first conference win is a good way to start the season after the holiday break.”
     Senior William Cooley scored a game-high 15 points to pace Platteville.
     Schambow posted a near triple–double of nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists and senior Adam Brogley chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds.
Cuba City holds off Platteville, 58–55
     Platteville renewed its rivalry from the old Southern Eight Conference and Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League by playing Cuba City in a nonconference matchup Monday night.
     The Cubans’ 15–0 run over 3½ minutes in the second quarter proved to be too much for the Hillmen to overcome, despite their best second-half efforts, in Cuba City’s 58–55 win.
     The 15–0 run ended on a Blake Wagner three-point play with 1:26 left in the first half.
     The Hillmen held the Cubans scoreless for 3½ minutes, cutting the lead to 42–35 on a Wagner 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in the third.
     Kupersmith’s basket with 6:18 left in the game cut the lead to 44–39, and Wagner’s two free throws cut the lead to 48–45 with 3:20 left.
     That, however, was as close as the Hillmen got. Cuba City inched away with one Preston Droessler basket and another Gaines basket, and by going 8 of 16 from the free throw line. Cooley’s buzzer-beating three-pointer provided the final margin.
     Wagner finished with a game-high 18 points to lead Platteville. Cooley had a nice all-around game with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists to lead Platteville, and Kupersmith added eight points and eight rebounds.

Platteville 56, Dodgeville 54
(from Saturday, Jan. 10 @ Dodgeville)
Platteville    14    19    13    10     —  56
Dodgeville    6    23    15    10     —  54
Platteville (5–5, 1–3) — Derek Schambow 9, Tanner Ames 7, William Cooley 15, Blake Wagner 8, Chance Kupersmith 4, Adam Brogley 13. Totals — 23 6-16 56.
Dodgeville (3–8, 2–1) — Gullickson 7, Nelson 6, A. Larson 3, Jones 11, Hottman 8, Clerkin 4, Nagel 15. Totals — 20 9-13 54.
3-point goals — P: 4 (Cooley 2, Brogley 1, Schambow 1); D: 5 (Nelson 1, Jones 2, A. Larson 1, Nagel 1). Team fouls — P: 18, D: 18. Fouled out — none.

Cuba City 58, Platteville 55
(from Monday, Jan. 13 @ Cuba City)
Platteville    12    7    16    20     —  55
Cuba City    14    23    5    16     —  58
Platteville (5–6) — Derek Schambow 4, Tanner Ames 2, William Cooley 17, Blake Wagner 18, Chance Kupersmith 8, Adam Brogley 6. Totals — 17 5-13 55.
Cuba City (5–4) — Gaines 11, Splinter 3, Burkholder 12, Denlinger 9, Droessler 12, Moor 9. Totals — 19 18-33 58.
3-point goals — P: 4 (Cooley 3, Wagner 1); CC: 2 (Gaines 1, Burkholder 1). Team fouls — P: 23, CC: 15. Fouled out — P: Brogley.