By NATE BEIER | For the County Line
Royall boys basketball head coach Scott Uppena knew the Panthers were going to have their hands full Thursday night when they traveled to Brookwood for the final game with the Falcons this season.
The Panthers have struggled to play their best ball at BHS recently, as evidenced by the game two years ago, when the Falcons notched their only win of the season in a 57–46 win over RHS. Or last year’s match, which the Panthers won 63–52. But the Panthers had a fair chance to notch another win. They did, 59–55, and maintained a hold on second place in the conference.
Both teams had big things to play for Thursday night, as the regional seeding meeting was coming up Saturday. The winner of Thursday’s game would be able to use the victory as a big bargaining chip at Saturday’s regional seeding meeting.
Uppena’s Panthers found a way to get the advantage by halftime, leading 26–22. Royall used its man-to-man defense to try to limit Brookwood’s opportunities, keying in on the Falcons’ most consistent threat — Robert Cunitz.
In the second half, both teams played evenly, scoring 33 each. Royall continued to work the ball inside to its bigs — Tristan Welchlin, Seth Brown and Chandler Townsend — and did so with success. Down the stretch, it was Royall’s prowess at the free throw line that helped it maintain its lead. The Panthers were 18–26 from the charity stripe.
“It was the win we needed at that point in time,” said Uppena following Thursday’s game. “We traditionally don’t play well there, so to beat them on their court is big.”
The Panthers’ pressure on Cunitz quieted him, but not by much. The junior scored 15 after hitting three 3-pointers, four free throws and a field goal. Orrie Maurhoff led BHS with 16, and Matt Hansen managed to put up 10.
Royall’s Jaydyn Enzenbacher scored 16: three 3-pointers and seven free throws. Seth Brown also scored 16 after hitting four field goals and going 8–9 from the free throw line. In the win, Welchlin added 11; and Dane Hyer, 10.
Brown also led Royall with nine rebounds as the Panthers out-boarded Brookwood 30–20. Cunitz and Maurhoff each had five rebounds.
“It was a hard-fought game, and Royall hit free throws down the stretch to secure the win,” said Brookwood head coach Travis Anderson. “Our team played hard and did a lot ofgood things in the game. We just didn’t get a score and a defensive stop at the other end of the floor when we needed most it in the last minute or so.”
Royall 65, New Lisbon 44
New Lisbon had Royall in a big hole early in last week’s make-up game, but the visiting Rockets could not maintain the lead, and the home team bounced by for a 21-point win Tuesday night.
Enzenbacher’s 16 points led the way, while Brown finished with 13 points and Hyer added 10. Welchlin’s 9 and Josh Kolodzinski’s 8 helped round out the top scorers. New Lisbon’s Cody Haschke scored 14.
Enzenbacher finished with a game-high four steals, and Chandler Townsend had two blocks in the win.
Bangor 76, Royall 62
Royall led 8–1 very early against Bangor, but the conference champion Cardinals didn’t fold in Monday night’s contest. They took the lead and built on it, though Royall cut the lead to 4 points just before the halftime break. A couple of quick buckets by Bangor put the Cardinals up 34–26 at the break, however. The Panthers were outscored by 6 in the second half, where once again they had to keep battling from behind to catch up to BHS.
Tristan Welchlin’s 18 led the way. The junior scored 16 of hispoints on field goals. Enzenbacher and Kolodzinski each added 12 in the losing effort.
Bangor’s Drew Johnson scored 25, and Luke Reader added 20.
Royall will be the third-seeded team for next week’s regional tournament. Bangor was the top seed, and Augusta was the second. The Panthers will host New Lisbon in the opening round of play.
Brookwood 65, Wonewoc-Center 51
“It was one of our most efficient nights on the offensive end we have had all year,” said coach Anderson. “Our kids executed well on offense and limited our opponent’s chances by playing intense defense. Our team came out with high energy, emotion, and intensity, and those are all key factors in winning basketball games.”
Brookwood was 24–48 in 2-pointers and 3–13 in 3-pointers as they finished the season sweep of the Wolves on Monday night.
Lukas Summerfield was 7–10 in the game, scoring a game-high 17. Cunitz added 11 and Hansen 10 as the Falcons improved to 15–6 on the year.
Brookwood led by 14 at the half.
Wonewoc-Center’s Dawson Miller and Elliott Jacobson each scored 10.
Anderson said, “I think we are playing our best basketball at the end of the year, and that has been our goal since the season started. Hopefully we can continue to keep everyone healthy and play well the last game of the regular season and take that momentum into the tournament.”
Brookwood was awarded the fifth seed and will host the 12th-seeded Whitehall Norsemen on Tuesday to start regional play.