RICHLAND CENTER — In frustrating fashion the Platteville boys basketball relived the same nightmare twice last week in a pair of SWC losses to Richland Center and Lancaster.
     The Hillmen then closed the week with a disastrous 70–29 non-conference loss at Cascade, Iowa on Saturday.
     Last Tuesday Platteville (3–4, 0–3 SWC) lead by as much as 13 points in the first half, but couldn’t hang on in a 46–45 loss at Richland Center.
     The Hillmen led 24–11 midway through the second quarter, but the Hornets (4–3, 1–1) scored seven straight to close the half, including five straight by senior Alex Mortimer, who finished with a game-high 22 points.
     Platteville led 33–30 entering the fourth quarter and clinging to a 36–35 lead with four minutes remaining before Mortimer gave RC its first lead of the second half.
     A Brogley jumper with 3:30 remaining gave Platteville one last lead at 38–37, but Mortimer answered with a clutch three-point play with 2:45 to play.
     Platteville misfired on its next possession and was forced to foul.
     Richland Center made 6 of 7 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to close out the win.
     Platteville’s Derek Schambow tossed in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the final a one-point game.
     Junior Blake Wagner had 12 points and seven rebounds to lead Platteville in defeat. Brogley had eight points and nine rebounds, and Schambow chipped in eight points and eight assists.
     Thursday’s 47–44 loss to visiting Lancaster was eerily similar to Tuesday’s setback.
     Brogley scored seven straight Platteville points to open in the second half and assisted on a Chance Kupersmith layup to give the Hillmen a 27–19 lead.
     Schambow made a pair of free throws with 6:30 left in the game to make it 35–29 then the wheels fell off.
     Lancaster senior Zach Hentrich hit a pair of free throws, then converted a steal into a layup moments later. Then junior Brett Snider stole the ensuing inbound pass and set up a Nate Tranel layup to cut the Platteville lead to two at 35–33.
     With Platteville in foul trouble Tranel went on the attack. He was fouled on consecutive possessions and cashed in all four free throws to give Lancaster its first lead of the second half, then scored inside on another feed from Snider to make it 40–36.
     A pair of Hentrich free throws capped Lancaster’s tide-turning 15–1 run.
     The Arrows, who snapped a 36-game conference losing streak with the win, made 5 out of 10 from the free throw line to close out the win.
     Schambow tossed in another last-second 3-pointer to account for the final score. The senior point guard finished with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.
     Brogley had a team-high 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Kupersmith added 11 points, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks in his best game of his young varsity career.
     “For three quarters we pretty much controlled the game,” said Platteville head coach Mike Huser. “We defended well, made them take tough shots and rebounded well, but in the fourth quarter when we got in foul trouble Lancaster was able to take advantage at the free throw line and prevail.
     “This is a resilient group. I have no doubt that we will bounce back and be successful.”
     Brogley scored a team-high nine points in Saturday’s loss at Cascade.
     Harris Takes scored a game-high 19 points to lead the undefeated Cougers, who outscored the Hillmen 43–13 in the first half.
     Platteville returns to action Thursday at 6 p.m. against Black Hawk in the first game of the Mineral Point Holiday Tournament. The Hillmen will then play either Juda or the host Pointers on Friday.

Richland Center 46, Platteville 45
(from Tuesday, Dec. 17 @ Rich. Center)
Platteville      12    15    6    12     —  45
Rich. Center    9    12    9    16     —  46
Platteville (3–2, 0–2) — Ryan Weber 6, Derek Schambow 8, William Cooley 5, Blake Wagner 12, Chance Kupersmith 6, Adam Brogley 8. Totals — 19 5-9 45.
Richland Center (4–3, 1–1) — Breininger 7, Stanek 9, Anderson 4, Johnson 2, Mortimer 22, Haas 2. Totals — 16 11-14 46.
3-point goals — P: 2 (Schambow 1, Cooley 1); RC: 3 (Breiniger 1, Stanek 1, Mortimer 1). Team fouls — P: 19, RC: 13. Fouled out — none.

Lancaster 47, Platteville 44
(from Thursday, Dec. 19 @ Platteville)
Lancaster    6    11    10    20     —  47
Platteville    7    11    15    11     —  44
Lancaster (4–3, 1–2) — Hentrich 13, Buddack 1, Glass 1, Tranel 16, Farrey 3, Friederick 3, Snider 10. Totals — 11 23-31 47.
Platteville (3–3, 0–3) — Ryan Weber 4, Derek Schambow 9, William Cooley 3, Blake Wagner 4, Chance Kupersmith 11, Adam Brogley 13. Totals — 16 9-15 44.
3-point goals — L: 2 (Hentrich 1, Farrey 1); P: 3 (Schambow 1, Kupersmith 1, Brogley 1). Team fouls — L: 16, P: 24. Fouled out — P: Kupersmith.

Cascade 70, Platteville 29
(from Saturday, Dec. 21 @ Cascade, IA)
Platteville    5     8      9    7     —  29
Cascade    13    30    23    4     —  70
Platteville (3–4) — Ryan Weber 4, Derek Schambow 7, Devon Briggs 3, Blake Wagner 6, Adam Brogley 9. Totals — 12 3-6 29.
Cascade (5–0) — Lieurance 2, Oberbroeckling 12, Rausch 13, Takes 19, Recker 6, Weber 2, Green 14, Strang 2. Totals — 26 14-16 70.
3-point goals — P: 2 (Schambow 1, Briggs 1); C: 6 (Oberbroeckline 2, Rausch 3, Recker 1). Team fouls — P: 18, C: 7. Fouled out — none.