MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Dec. 17–25)
BOYS BASKETBALL: Platteville 64, D5 #6 Potosi 59

By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal

Ludlum, full-court press rally Hillmen at Potosi

POTOSI — The Potosi Chieftains were in prime position to pull off a stunning early-season upset against visiting Platteville last Tuesday night.

The Chieftains led by 11 with 7:24 left, but the Hillmen responding with a 15–0 run over the next two minutes and held on for a 64–59 non-conference victory.

Senior Lucas Ludlum scored 10 of his career-high 31 points in the final seven minutes, and Platteville forced four straight Potosi turnovers to spur the comeback.

“When we were down 11 points, we told our guys that we were ready to make our run,” said Platteville head coach Mike Huser. “We felt that Potosi had expended a lot of energy to build the lead and it was our time to really ramp up our pressure and we could force some quick turnovers and if we converted them, we would be right back in the game.  

“Our guys believe in what we are doing and they responded magnificently. Of course, we made some quick three-point baskets but our defensive effort on both the full and half court was much better in the second half. Our kids really responded and battled back but they never wavered from our plan.”

Potosi senior Dawson Weber, who scored 15 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, pushed Potosi’s led back to 11 at 52–41 on a bank shot from the block with 7:24 left.

Senior Nathan Mumm was fouled shooting a 3-pointer on Platteville’s ensuing possession and made all three free throw attempts to begin the 15–0 run. Junior Myron Reuter made a 3-pointer at the 5:48 mark following a Potosi turnover, then Ludlum splashed a triple following his own steal just seconds later to make it 52–50.

After another Hillmen steal in the backcourt, Ludlum gave Platteville a 53–52 lead when he converted a 3-point play with 5:26 left. Potosi committed its fourth straight turnover and senior Jonah Vorwald hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 56–52 with 5:06 remaining.

Weber kept Potosi close with a 3-point play of his own on the opposite end, but Ludlum was fouled and made a pair of free throws to make it 58–55.

Senior Oliver Post scored on Potosi’s next possession, but Reuter made 4 of 6 at the free throw line in the final 1:13 to close out the Platteville win.

Ludlum finished with 31 points on 10 of 18 shooting, 12 rebounds, five steals and two assists. Reuter finished with 16 points — 14 in the second half — and five rebounds. Senior Eli Langmeier added six points, five rebounds and three blocks for the winners.

Platteville (4–1) made 7 of 29 3-point attempts in the game, while Potosi was 0 for 7 from outside the arc. The Hillmen also converted 19 of 28 at the free throw line compared to 9 of 13 by the Chieftains.

Weber finished with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Potosi. Post added 16 points and three boards, while senior Aidan Uppena finished with eight points and six boards. Sophomore guard Aaron Edge added six points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals before fouling out late in the game.

“We knew they wanted to attack us inside and they got us in some foul trouble, so our guys had to play through that a bit,” said Huser. “They were able to get offensive rebounds and convert those opportunities.  I just thought during that stretch they were playing to win the game and were playing not to make a mistake, so we had to change our mindset back to attack on both ends of the floor.”

Potosi built a 28–22 lead with 3 minutes left in the first half on six straight points from Uppena.

The Chieftains (2–2) used their length, specifically that of the 6-foot-6 Post at the top of a 2–3 zone to force 11 first-half turnovers. Post finished the game with 16 points, many on fastbreak layups, and three rebounds.

But Potosi also got in foul trouble in the first half and Platteville took advantage by making 5 of 6 at the free throw line, sandwiched around a coast-to-coast layup by Ludlum, to trim Potosi’s lead to a single point at the half, 30–29.

The Chieftains scored the first eight points of the second half and opened the final 18 minutes on a 12–2 run.

“Potosi has length, physicality and is well coached, so those three factors played into us being a bit more tentative on the offensive end of the floor,” said Huser. “Potosi had a good game plan to take away some of the concepts we like offensively and it took our guys a bit to adjust to what they were doing. It led to some errant passing and their length threw off timing for us on the offensive end of the floor. We had several live ball turnovers that led to run outs and easy opportunities for them to score on.”

Platteville continued its momentum with a 75–57 non-conference win at Fennimore in the nightcap of a girls–boys non-conference doubleheader.

Ludlum again led the way with 28 points Saturday night. Mumm made five 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 20 points, and Eli Langmeier added 10 points in the win.

Platteville 64, Potosi 59
(from Tuesday, Dec. 17 @ Potosi)
Platteville.....29 35 — 64  
Potosi............30 29 — 59  
Platteville (3–1) — Myron Reuter 16, Jauron Blevins 3, Jonah Vorwald 5, Lucas Ludlum 31, Nathan Mumm 3, Eli Langmeier 6. Totals — 19 19-27 64.
Potosi (2–2) — Jaxon Oyen 2, Aaron Edge 6, Dawson Weber 21, Oliver Post 16, Isaiah Groom 6, Aidan Uppena 8. Totals — 25 9-14 59.  
3-point goals — Pla: 7 (Reuter 1, Blevins 1, Vorwald 1, Ludlum 4); Pot: 0. Team fouls — Pla: 16; Pot: 21. Fouled out — none.