Vikings top Panthers in home contest

The Ventura boys had their ups and downs in basketball action last week, picking up one win and dropping two.
Lake Mills 49, Ventura 45
    The game came down to the wire for the Ventura Vikings Monday night, Jan. 6.  Unfortunately, Lake Mills came out on top of the close match-up.

    The first quarter saw back and forth scoring between the two teams and tight defensive pressure on both sides of the ball.  Lake Mills gained a 9-7 first quarter lead. 
    The Bulldogs started hitting three’s in the second quarter and gained a 21-17 half time advantage.
    Baskets started falling for the Vikings in the third quarter and they took a one point lead with 1:25 left in the third quarter.  By the end of the period they were up, 37-34.
    It was an exciting fourth quarter, with tight scoring.  The game was tied, 44-44, with 1:20 left in regulation.  With :32 seconds remaining, Lake Mills connected on a three-point shot, 47-44.  Joel Watson was sent to the line with :08 remaining on the clock, he brought the score to 47-45.  The Vikings were than forced to foul, sending Lake Mills to the line.  Both free throws went in, for the final 49-45 score in favor of the Bulldogs.
    “Lake Mills is very similar to our team in that they have some young guys getting a lot of minutes,” said Coach Chad Brown.
    Sophomore Joel Toppin led the team in scoring with 20 points.  Other leading scorers were Joel Watson with seven and Jace Byers and Zach Ryerson each contributed six points.
    Watson led the team under the boards with seven rebounds.  Logan Ryerson grabbed six and Toppin and Josh Theobald each had four rebounds.
    Byers and Toppin led the team in assists with three apiece. Watson and Logan Ryerson led in steals with two apiece.

Ventura 54, CWL 46
    It was a much improved CWL team that the Vikings faced at home on Tuesday, Jan. 10.  Luckily they hadn’t improved enough that the Vikings couldn’t defeat them.
    The first quarter saw back and forth scoring with a 12-12 score at the end of - Read More Via e-Edition