Somerville’s 23 helps snap Janesville Parker out of slump
Photo Gallery
JANESVILLE — Janesville Parker’s boys basketball team limped into the postseason.
The Vikings lost their last five regular-season games, all by double-digit margins.
In Tuesday night’s WIAA Division 1 regional opener, Parker made amends.
Andrew Somerville scored 23 points, and the Vikings pulled away late for a 68-54 win over Lake Geneva Badger.
Parker (7-16) plays at Burlington (15-7) on Friday night in a regional semifinal game. Badger ended the season 5-18.
The Vikings played well in the first and fourth quarters but struggled mightily in between. The Badgers refused to go away, despite trailing by 12 after one quarter.
“This game was kind of indicative of how our year was,” Parker coach Ryan Masterson said. “We had flashes where we looked really good, and then flashes of where we didn’t look so good because we stood around on offense.
“And give Lake Geneva credit. They could’ve folded early after we got them down, but they battled and played hard.”
Parker beat Badger for the second time this season, but unlike the earlier 67-42 win, the Vikings had to rally in the fourth to advance. Badger took its last lead at 50-48 on Jacob Growel’s three-pointer with 5:31 left to play.
Parker responded with a 7-0 run, capped off by Tanner Smith’s three-point play with 3:49 left that gave Parker a 55-50 lead.
“I told the guys afterward that from here on out, if we want to keep this going, we have to play like we did in the fourth quarter for all four quarters,” Masterson said. “That fourth quarter proved what kind of team we have when we’re executing offensively and getting after it on the defensive end.”
Somerville kept the Badgers at bay by going 6-for-7 from the foul line in the fourth. The senior and UW-Whitewater recruit scored 11 of his game-high 23 in the fourth.
Parker senior Charlie Grafft added 17 points in the win, while senior Erik Albeck finished with 12.
“I thought our seniors really stepped up in the fourth,” Masterson said. “They didn’t want to lose what was probably the last home game in their career.
“We just have to keep up the intensity Friday night. Burlington’s got a nice team, but there’s no reason we can’t play with them. We’ve shown we can play with the best teams in the Big Eight.”
Growel led Badger with 19 points, but was the only player in double figures.
PARKER 68, BADGER 54
Badger (54)—Andresen, 2-0-4; Kozlowski, 4-0-9; Growel, 6-5-19; Weber, 2-0-6; Slagle, 1-0-2; Compton, 3-3-9; Skipper, 0-3-3; Ashley, 1-0-2. Totals: 19-11-54.
Parker (66)—Somerville, 5-10-23; Smith, 2-2-6; Albeck, 4-2-12; Grafft, 6-5-17; Thompson, 1-2-5; Treinen, 1-0-2; Palan, 1-0-3. Totals: 20-21-68.
Badger 6 21 14 13—54
Parker 18 8 15 27—68
Three-point goals—Badger 5 (Growel 2, Weber 2, Kozlowski), Parker 7 (Somerville 3, Albeck 2, Thompson, Palan). Free throws missed—Badger 5, Parker 10. Total fouls—Badger 24, Parker 17. Fouled out—Andresen, Weber.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.