Spartan boys improve to 17-2 with win at Chippewa Falls

The Superior High School boys basketball team improved to 17-2 with a 59-35 win at Chippewa Falls Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals led 14-9 after the first quarter, but the Spartans turned things around with advantages of 14-6 in the second quarter and 22-7 in the third.

Saturday’s win also wrapped up a week that saw Superior play games on Tuesday and Thursday.

“It’s been a long week and we are definitely beat up by this stretch of games,” SHS coach Dave Kontny said. “It took a bit to get going on both ends Saturday, but I thought our pressure was the difference and again we were led by two different guys in scoring, which is nice to see.”

Nick Mehlum led the Spartans with 16 points, with Anthony Valentine added 12 points and Jordan Hughes 11.

“Our kids played hard and with a lot of energy,” Kontny said. “It was a very physical game, probably the most physical game we have been in all year. We had five bags of ice going around the team on the bus ride home and that’s never good.

“But I’m proud of my kids, they kept their composure and made some big plays when we needed to.”

Chippewa Falls (0-20) was led by Aaron Knez’s six points.

Up next for Superior is Duluth East on home Tuesday and at Grand Rapids Thursday.

SPARTAN SPIN: The Spartans snapped a five-game losing streak to East with a 69-58 win in Duluth on Jan. 31. … Superior’s JV improved to 17-2 with a 58-38 win Saturday. McKenzie Schwarz and Jeb Kimmes had 12 points each and Connor Gray added 11. … The SHS freshmen improved to 18-0 with a 54-27 win . Brandon Myer had 14 points and Devin Borstad and Brett Lozon added eight points apiece.

Superior 9-14-22-14—59

Chippewa Falls 14-6-7-8—35

Superior — Ben Erickson 7, Jordan Hughes 11, Nick Mehlum 16, Derek Kontny 5, Erick Tunell 5, Bryan Sanders 3, Anthony Valentine 12.

3-pointers—Tunell. Free throw — 8-of-11.

CF — Dustin Franz 3, Aaron Knez 6, Nate Kalien 4, Alex Ignorski 2, Aaron Houle 3, Mark Woodcock 4, Eric Hitt 4, Justin Ignarski 4, Jake Sperry 3, Amos Mayberry 2.

3-pointers — Knez 2, Franz, Knez, Houle, Hitt, Sperry. Free throws — 3-of-5.

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