Cadott’s defense holds teams to closer scores

The Cadott boys basketball program saw good success on the defensive end over the week, taking on some tough opponents.

Jan. 18 vs. Regis conference (L 49-30)

In a home match with the always tough Regis, Cadott held their own against the Ramblers on the defensive end. The Hornets kept good pace in the first half, going into halftime down 25-16. However, the offense wasn’t there in the second half of the game and Regis went home with a 49-30 victory.

“The boys played great team defense,” said coach Dusty Burish. “This was a big bounce-back from the last two weeks of giving up big scores. Now, we just have to hold these teams to 50 points to compete.”

Freshman Warren Bowe led the way for the Hornets, with two shots from long range, finishing with 10 points, followed by junior Tegan Ritter, with 8 points. Freshman Braden Schneider came next, with 3 points, while seniors Cameron Messenger and Ryan Sonnentag, and sophomores Jordan Peters and Dylan Drehmel all added 2 points each.

Sophomore Brodee Burish chipped in with 1 point.

Jan. 21 vs. Stanley-Boyd conference (L 55-39)

A few days later, the Hornets headed to Stanley-Boyd for a rivalry game, where Cadott’s offense was slow in the first half. The Orioles led 25-10 going into halftime, but coming out into the second half, the Hornets came to life on the scoreboard.

Cadott put up 29 points on the board, but Stanley-Boyd kept pace, adding 30 of their own. With the first-half deficit of the Hornets, the Orioles took the win, 55-39.

“Boys played great, just couldn’t collect the boards,” said D. Burish. “We gave up too many second-chance points.”

B. Burish led the way, with 11 points, nine of which came from three-pointers. Bowe also knocked down a couple of threes, ending with eight points, followed by Sonnentag, with 5 points, including a three-point shot.

Senior Ethan West also came up with 5 points, with Messenger and Ritter right behind, with 4 points each. Sophomore Elijah Burich rounded things out with 2 points.

Jan. 24 vs. Glenwood City non-conference (W 57-42)

Finishing up the week’s schedule, Cadott hosted Glenwood City, where the Hornets dominated on the scoreboard during the first half. Cadott took a 31-13 lead into halftime, but by the second half, the Hilltoppers found their offense.

The second part of the game was much closer, but with the large lead from the first half, Cadott held on for a 57-42 conference win.

“The boys’ defense is getting better every week, and pushed the ball really well on the offensive end,” said D. Burish.

Bowe and Ritter each had two shots from beyond the arc, with Bowe racking up 14 points and Ritter right behind, with 13. B. Burish came next, with 10 points, followed by Sonnentag and Blum, with 5.

Drehmel and Peters each shot a three-pointer, and Messenger and West each recorded 2 points.

Cadott’s record now sits at 5-11 overall and 1-8 in the West Cloverbelt Conference.