In just one game last week, the Ellsworth boys’ basketball team (3-5, 2-3 in MBC) fell on the road to Somerset (11-3, 4-2 in MBC) on Tuesday. The Panthers took a 25-17 lead into the half, but …
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In just one game last week, the Ellsworth boys’ basketball team (3-5, 2-3 in MBC) fell on the road to Somerset (11-3, 4-2 in MBC) on Tuesday.
The Panthers took a 25-17 lead into the half, but senior Melvin Medina-Ortiz’s Spartans outscored them 37-19 after the break for a final score of 44-54. Medina-Ortiz led all scorers with 21 points on nine of 16 shooting from the field.
The Panthers are now fifth in the Middle Border Conference (MBC) behind Saint Croix Central, New Richmond, Somerset and Prescott, in that order.
Mason Anderson and Spencer Schultz led the Panthers, each scoring 12 points. Jack Janke was close behind with 10 points, while Tanner Pechacek and Shane Lange each hit a pair of field goals. Schultz pulled in nine rebounds to lead all players, while Lange notched the most assists in the game with three. Lange also recorded a pair of steals for the Panthers.
Ellsworth traveled to New Richmond (4-4, 4-1 in MBC) on Tuesday night after the printing of this publication, and will look to implement what they’ve learned against top competition.
“We have continued to work on ourselves_and really focus in on improving upon our own concepts and execution,” said Panther Coach Jordan Petersen.
After five games against very tough competition since back-toback road games against Prescott and Menomonie, followed by a matchup with River Falls, who happens to be ranked fourth in Division 2, the Panthers will have a chance to get their season back on track with two of their next three games against Osceola, who sits winless at the bottom of the MBC rankings behind Baldwin-Woodville and Amery. A non-conference matchup with Spring Valley is scheduled between matchups with Osceola.
“There are no nights off in the MBC this season, so it is a constant battle to fight complacency and continue to improve,” Petersen said. “We have been in close games that we just haven't executed well enough down the stretch._ It is something we talk about and focus on in practice and something we will continue trying to push through._ It is something that the players need to be mentally tough enough to be able to.”
