SOUTH WAYNE – Black Hawk guard Seth Butler hit the game-winning shot with :04.4 seconds remaining to lift the Warriors over Barneveld, 56-54, in an action-packed Six Rivers East boys’ basketball game in front of a raucous crowd at Barneveld High School on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
    “This game was one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of. Going over to Barneveld and winning a two-point game in such a dramatic fashion is always great,” said Black Hawk head coach Corey Manlick.
    Playing their first game in 25 days, the Warriors (9-1 overall, 5-1 in SRE) showed little rust as they raced out to a 33-22 halftime lead.
    “I’m not going to lie. I thought we’d be rusty, but the kids proved me wrong. They did an outstanding job by mentally preparing themselves for this game. They worked hard over break,” admitted Manlick.
    The Golden Eagles (7-5, 4-1) erased the Warriors’ 11-point lead with a 21-10 third quarter scoring advantage, and they even briefly took a one-point lead with a minute to play.
    Up stepped Butler, who missed a go-ahead lay-up with 30 seconds to play but made the most of his second chance by scoring on a baseline drive with 4.4 to go to send the Warriors to their first win over Barneveld since 2008.
    “It puts a lot of confidence in the kids that we can do this against a good team like Barneveld,” Manlick said. “We’re looking really good right now. I’m hoping to keep this going. We have a lot of ball left.”
    Butler and Merik Meythaler each finished with 11 points to lead the Warriors. Cory Rupnow netted nine points, while Heath Butler tallied seven and Coltin Piefer added six for the guests.
    Devon Schult dropped in a game-high 20 points to lead Barneveld, while Jeremy Whitish and Hunter Whitish chipped in with 11 apiece for the hosts.
    Tuesday’s victory was the start of a successful return to the court for the Warriors, who posted four wins over the span of seven days.
    A 55-34 win over Argyle (6-8, 2-3) in South Wayne on Friday, Jan. 11, allowed the Warriors to maintain their half-game lead over Barneveld and Monticello atop the SRE; and non-conference victories over Durand, 65-50, on Saturday, Jan. 12, and Warren, 54-45, on Monday, Jan. 14, ran their winning streak to five games.
    S. Butler scored a season-high 16 points and M. Meythaler added eight points to lead the Warriors against Argyle. Riley Ostby led the Orioles with 12 points.
    S. Butler also led a balanced Warrior attack against Durand with a team-high 14 points. Piefer netted a season-high 12 points, while Meythaler chipped in with 11 and Tyler Peterson added 10. Rupnow and Heath Butler each scored nine for the Warriors.
    Finally, against Warren on Monday night, H. Butler scored a season-high 15 points to lead all scorers in the battle of Warriors. Peterson added 12 points and S. Butler contributed 11 to the winning effort.
    Black Hawk has upcoming games at home against Juda on Thursday, Jan. 17, and Cassville on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 2:30 p.m.; and a road game at Blanchardville against Pecatonica on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
    The Warriors non-conference game at Orangeville, which was postponed Dec. 20, will be made up on Thursday, Feb. 14.

Black Hawk 56, Barneveld 54
Black Hawk… 17  16  10  13 – 56
Barneveld….. 12  10  21  11 – 54
    Black Hawk –Tyler Peterson 5, Cuyler Meier 4, Brett Lovelace 3, Seth Butler 11, Merik Meythaler 11, Heath Butler 7, Coltin Piefer 6, Cory Rupnow 9. Totals – 19  14-22  56.
    Barneveld – Sorensen 4, Hodgson 6, Hellenbrand 2, J. Whitish 11, H. Whitish 11, Schult 20. Totals – 22  3-12  54.
    3-point goals – BH 3 (Meythaler 3), BA 7 (J. Whitish 1, Schult 6). Total fouls – BH 16, BA 23. Fouled out – BH: Piefer; BA: Sorensen.

Black Hawk 55, Argyle 34
Argyle.………. 7    8    7  12 – 34
Black Hawk… 7  16  14  18 – 55
    Argyle – Ploessl 2, Ostby 12, Treuthardt 6, Vives 6, Severson 8. Totals – 12  10-19  34.
    Black Hawk –Noah Thomson 2, Tyler Peterson 6, Cuyler Meier 6, Brett Lovelace 3, Seth Butler 16, Merik Meythaler 8, Heath Butler 6, Coltin Piefer 2, Cory Rupnow 4, Braytn Meythaler 2. Totals – 22  7-13  55.
    3-point goals – A 0, BH 4 (Peterson 2, H. Butler 2). Total fouls – A 15, BH 18.

Black Hawk 65, Durand 50
Black Hawk… 14  20  15  16 – 65
Durand……… 17  11  10  12 – 50
    Black Hawk – Tyler Peterson 10, Seth Butler 14, Merik Meythaler 11, Heath Butler 9, Coltin Piefer 12, Cory Rupnow 9. Totals – 21  8-29  65.
    Durand – Evenson 2, Asche 2, Palmie 2, Szymanski 15, Basile 15, Zollar 8, Bryant 6. Totals – 19  9-18  50.
    3-point goals – BH 5 (Peterson 2, Meythaler 2, Piefer 1), D 3 (Szymanski 1, Basile 2). Total fouls – BH 17, D 20. Fouled out – D: Palmie.

Black Hawk 54, Warren 45
Warren………. 9  12    9  15 – 45
Black Hawk… 4  21  12  17 – 54
    Warren – Cox 7, Williams 13, Heller 1, Pax 11, Janssen 8, Harris 5. Totals – 20  10-14  45.
    Black Hawk –Tyler Peterson 12, Cuyler Meier 4, Seth Butler 11, Merik Meythaler 3, Heath Butler 15, Coltin Piefer 2, Cory Rupnow 7. Totals – 22  13-23  54.
    3-point goals – W 5 (Cox 1, Williams 1, Pax 1, Janssen 1, Harris 1), BH 3 (Peterson 2, Meythaler 1). Total fouls – W 20, BH 16.