2013-02-07 Sports

Badger basketball takes two, surpasses 2012 win total




It's been a team effort for the Badgers this year. Mike Ramczyk.

Mike Ramczyk

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	Wieseman (click for larger version)

February 05, 2013 | 04:17 PM

The Badger boys basketball team continued its unselfish play last week.

The idea of making plays for teammates, which coach Darin Lottig has stressed all season, led to two victories for the local boys. With the wins, Badger surpassed its win total from a year ago, and there are still four games left in the regular season.

On Thursday at home, despite committing 29 turnovers, the Badgers led 30-19 at the half and cruised to a 53-33 victory.

The Badgers improved to 7-11 overall and 2-8 in the Southern Lakes Conference.

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Badger fired out of the locker room, taking a 17-6 lead after the first quarter. Colton Andresen, Tony Ashley and Ian Weber all canned triples in the opening period.

Badger hit six threes in the game.

"Almost everyone had a handful of good plays, but we took a step backwards by committing a lot of turnovers," Lottig said. "That being said, the majority of our turnovers came while trying to make a play for a teammate, something that is paramount to this team's continued success. The really good teams play for each other and it appears, at times, that we are doing that. Even with 29 turnovers, we were able to win convincingly."

Jake Kozlowski paced the Badgers with 10 points, but six Badgers scored six points or more. Weber hit three 3-pointers. Andresen also finished with nine points. Lincoln Wieseman scored eight points and was 6-for-6 from the foul line.

Badger looks to keep up this momentum Friday at home against Burlington. The Demons are currently leading the SLC and beat Badger handily in the teams' first meeting.

"It's amazing what is possible when we all work together and are accountable to each other," Lottig said of his team's recent success. "The guys on this team deserve a lot of credit."

Badger 61, Waukesha South 56

The Badgers picked up their second road victory of the season Jan. 29 in Waukesha.

Leading 31-28 at halftime, Badger extended its lead with a 19-14 third quarter.

Wieseman scored a season-high 20 points to lead Badger. Kozlowski added 15.

"Lincoln played well against Waukesha South," Lottig said. "He really got us going at the beginning in terms of scoring. He also rebounded pretty well and hit his free throws. 'Koz' did a nice job of handling their full-court man pressure and also made really good decisions on the offensive end."

Feedback

Tags: Sports

EGO Too Big
February 07, 2013 | 09:20 AM

Next headline should read
Coaches Ego Gets In Way of Badger Victory.
the boys had momentum until the coach stopped the game because he was upset with a White Sheet on a White Wall
Keep your Ego off the court

Badger Fan
Lake Geneva
Embarassing
February 07, 2013 | 10:46 AM

We couldnt believe your coaches arrogance. I was glad to see the badger parents and players were embarrassed about it also. He needs to apologize for embarassing your school.

Central Parent
Paddock Lake
Role Model
February 07, 2013 | 01:01 PM

The coach says the team is making plays for each other and then he pulls an Ego trip at Central. What does that show the kids Have an Ego Temper Tantrum to show your in charge. Thats our Badger role model no thanks

Badger Red
Lake Geneva
Is this OK ?
February 07, 2013 | 02:25 PM

We condemned Rayfield for the Big Foot Beating last year and how is this childish ego act going to be handled. I think East Troy got the better deal

Just a Fan
Lyons
February 08, 2013 | 04:20 PM

You should be congratulating the Badger athletic director in your next article for getting the easiest schedule in division 1 basketball for this team to play. 7 wins is amazing for the lack of talent or coaching present on Badger varsity basketball.

Lake Geneva Resident
February 08, 2013 | 07:22 PM

What is the hate towards Darin Lottg?

Been here 30 years
Lake Geneva
February 10, 2013 | 01:06 PM

This team actually has some nice talent. I don't know why they can't finish games off or have underachieved this season.

umm
February 11, 2013 | 01:03 AM

Easiest schedule for a so called division 1 program. non conference games against teams like baraboo and kenosha reuther haha! Being happy with a 7 win season is an embarrassment. With a competitive schedule it would have been less than 5 wins

Joe
2 years
February 11, 2013 | 11:25 AM

I think it's kind of harsh to conclude that Darin is a failure based on 2 years in the job. He needs time to build this program in his own image.

I do think that he has other obstacles that make it difficult. The recent success of the football team may actually be having a negative effect on the basketball team as the better athletes are choosing to focus on one sport over the other. Even if they play both sports, they dedicate their off-season to only one. I don't think it's a coincidence that the top 2 basketball teams in the conference are not very good at football.

I also think that the Southern Lakes is becoming a wrestling hotbed which probably takes some of the better athletes away from b-ball all together. When was the last time the top 3 teams in the entire Miwaukee area came from the SLC? Never, thats when. This tells me that at the youth level there is a growth in wrestling which can only serve to steal some of the more athletic kids.

None of these factures are offered as a reason Darin won't win, just that he has a tough rode to hoe, & deserves time to right the ship. Again, he is in his 2nd year.

Ray
LG
February 11, 2013 | 05:50 PM

Well I certainly don't think Coach Lottig is a failure. I just believe they have not played up to their potential. They're kids, sometimes it's like that.

umm
February 12, 2013 | 08:11 AM

Heard Growel got his walking papers from Coach Raefield last night.

Interesting
Ray is correct
February 12, 2013 | 08:17 AM

Give the team/program some time to develop--school and community support are important for the players and for the entire program. When the basketball teams need to share courts for practice to allow for additional wrestling practice space, school and athlete priorities are clear.

Basketball Fan
Lake Geneva
What?
February 12, 2013 | 11:32 AM

The wrestling program uses at most 1 court in the field center. That leaves all of the other courts, as well as the entire main gym available. How in the world is that not enough space for the remaining basketball teams?

The wrestling programs success has nothing to do with the priorities of the school. The number 1 priority is football & everyone else is fighting for the crumbs. Wrestling has succeeded because of a driven coach, a strong youth club, & support from small but passionate core group.

If one court in the field center is what is holding the basketball program back, they are in real trouble. I also would agree with Ray. More & more this is becoming wrestling country. You have a huge wrestling only facility down the road in Elkhorn & a number of top wrestlers in the state come from this area. That can't be said about basketball.

Donnie
Pell Lake