By NATE BEIER | For the County Line
The Brookwood boys basketball team has had to make adjustments to various to points in the season due to injury and illness. Last week’s games against Kickapoo and New Lisbon weren’t any exception.
The team had welcomed back starter Orrie Maurhoff last week after an injury, but needed help as Robert Cunitz struggled with illness for the better part of last week. The team rallied to pick up a pair of wins and improve to 12-4 on the season.
Brookwood 68, Kickapoo 62 OT
The game was in Brookwood’s control for the first three-quarters of regulation. However, Kickapoo made a push and stayed within 5-7 points of the Falcons before tying the game at 55 in the final minute.
In the final ten seconds, the Panthers set up a final game-winning shot, but a block by Kaden Laufenberg helped send the game into overtime.
Three-pointers by Cunitz, and Garrett Gerke and a field goal by Orrie Maurhoff aided the visiting team and a team effort to go 5-6 in free throws helped set up the 68-62 win.
Coach Travis Anderson said, “I thought that throughout the game we played very hard and were able to counter any runs they made in the game. Our team rebounded better than we did in the past two games, which helped us limit their second chance points.”
Both teams ended with 25 boards. Brookwood’s leading rebounder was Cunitz with 8 total rebounds.
Cunitz also led the scoring with 21 points. Gerke added 18, Maurhoff 10 in the win.
Brookwood 62, New Lisbon 52
The Rockets never quit. They seemed to push enoughto stay within striking distance of the Falcons’ lead, but couldn’t make up the difference in the second half. Brookwood outscored the visiting team by six in the first half and four in the second.
Coach Travis Anderson said, “I thought we rebounded well to get out in transition and get some easy baskets. We were able to match any runs they went on.”
Anderson understands that his team is in position to finish well in Scenic Bluffs Conference play, and then can move forward in a competitive regional tournament,but still has work to do to reach their full potential.
“As we move forth in the remainder of the season, we just need to limit some of our turnovers and create a few more on the defensive end,” said the fourth-year head coach.
Gerke finished as the Falcons’ leading scorer with 24 points. Gerke scored the bulk of his points on 3-pointers, going 6–10 on the night. Cunitz was good for 17 and Maurhoff added 10.