Game Report: Pecatonica 72, Parkview 69

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEYS TO THE GAME</strong><br><br>In a battle of teams projected to win conference championships, host Pecatonica held off a strong charge from Parkview to record a 72-69 non-league victory in a season opener for both squads Tuesday evening. Pecatonica, of the Six Rivers East, raced out to an early double-digit lead before visiting Parkview, of the Trailways South, managed to trim its deficit to 34-27 at half. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1858222' first='Aiden' last='Crane'] (6-0) drilled a three-point shot, one of nine in the game for the four-year varsity performer, to give Parkview a 35-34 lead with 15:33 left. The teams traded momentum the rest of the way, but some strong foul shooting from junior [player_tooltip player_id='2621236' first='Griffin' last='Noll'] (6-3) in the last couple of minutes helped Pecatonica keep Parkview at arm's length in a battle of teams with the same nickname, the Vikings. Noll made five-of-six charity tosses down the stretch and scored 17 points for Pecatonica, which overcame a remarkable 37-point performance from Crane in notching its victory.<br><strong><br>STAR OF THE GAME</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1858222"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6926964beecdc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crane, a hard-working basketball gym rat, poured in 37 points and made a career-best nine three-point baskets to keep his squad close throughout Tuesday's contest. He banged home three triples in the final two minutes of the game with each shot seemingly further out on the floor than the last. He final triple cut Pecatonica's lead to 70-69 and came from no less than 30 feet. A strong athlete with good elevation on his shot and solid ball-handling skills, Crane is the son of Parkview coach Mary Crane and a four-year varsity player for the Vikings. He is looking to play college basketball and major psychology and philosophy. He made 9-of-21 attempts from outside the arc despite being the focal point of the Pecatonica defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EMERGING PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3021685"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6926964beed31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leonard was rock-solid in the first half with 13 points and maybe even better during the second 18 minutes as he made some huge plays with the game on the line and finished with 22 points. A versatile player who scored inside and outside, Leonard competes with excellent composure and plays well off the two feet around the rim. A returning starter for Pecatonica, Leonard appears on course to improve on his 8.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg averages of a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2621236"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692696d67aef2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Noll averaged just a tad over 25 points a game as a sophomore so he's game is well known in southwest Wisconsin. After running into early foul trouble and sitting a good chunk of the first half against Parkview, Noll came out in the second half and made some nice passes and converted five huge foul shots to keep his squad in front over the final stretch of the contest. Noll, the son of Pecatonica coach Scott Noll, finished with 17 points and a handful of assists. His size, length and feel for the game all translate to the next level and once he gains some weight and strength, his game will go to another level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2393140"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692696d67af66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When it looked as if Pecatonica might stretch its lead to double figures just over halfway through the second half, Friedrich stepped up and contributed some much needed offense to Parkview's cause. He scored three straight baskets and dropped in a couple of foul shots as the Vikings gained some momentum before falling just short in its battle with Pecatonica. Friedrich has good size and strength, and some go-to moves off the dribble that he completed with layups off the glass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE BIG PICTURE</strong><br><br>Pecatonica will host Boscobel Monday in another non-league outing. The Vikings' 2000-01 squad, which lost to Burlington Catholic Central in the WIAA Division 4 state-title game, will be honored at the contest. Meanwhile, Parkview has a big Trailways South contest at Madison Abundant Life next Tuesday. <br><br><strong>FROM THE COACHES<br><br>Parkview coach Mary Crane:</strong><br>"The biggest key for us this season will be our defense. I know we can score, but defense is the key. We didn't defend well to start the game and had some breakdowns late in the game. We will continue to work on getting better on defense."<br><br><strong>Pecatonica coach Scott Noll:</strong><br>"Leonard had a great game for us. He is 100 percent better than a year ago, particularly with his dribble drive to the basket and perimeter shooting. I was proud of our stock-to-itiveness. We went down 37-36 after leading all of the game and last year, we would have folded. Instead, we countered and played with poise."<br><br><strong>BOXSCORE</strong><br><br><strong>Parkview (27-42 = 69)</strong><br>Aid. Crane 37, Ad. Crane 3, Nath 4, Hazeltine 2, Williams 8, Carr 0, Burrell 0, Friedrich 15, Robinson 0. Three-point field goals: Aid. Crane 9, Williams 2, Friedrich 1, Ad. Crane 1. FT: 8-16. Fouled out: None. Record: 0-1.<br><strong>Pecatonica (34-38 = 72)</strong><br>Domine 0, Schlimgen 10, Noll 17, Erickson 8, Enloe 2, Stateler 0, Anderson 13, Leonard 22. Three-point field goals: Schlimgen 3, Anderson 2, Noll 1, Leonard 1. FT: 10-16. Fouled out: None. Record: 1-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->