Mondovi boys build solid foundation in early going this season
by Beth Kraft
The Mondovi boys basketball team recorded two more victories last week and moved to 2-0 in Dunn-St. Croix Conference play heading into the holiday break. It’s a start many may not have seen coming for this year’s brand-new Buffaloes’ squad that may be short on varsity experience, but not on scoring or defensive intensity.
The Mondovi boys kicked off last week’s games at home with a 58-51 non-conference victory over Chetek-Weyerhaeuser on Monday, Dec. 15.
The Buffaloes built a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter, leading 19-9, then continued to rack up the points with a 16-point effort in the second quarter to lead 35-18 at halftime.
The third quarter featured an even effort by both squads but the Bulldogs attacked the final quarter with a vengeance, outscoring Mondovi 24-15. The late-game outburst wasn’t enough to upset the Buffaloes’ lead, though, as Mondovi held on for the seven-point win.
Senior Hayden Ford paced the Buffs with 11 points, shooting a perfect 2-for-2 from 3-point land, followed by juniors Cole Kamla with 10 points and Blake Purdy with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Senior Jake Ede also chipped in with eight points and a team-high three assists.
Two days later, Mondovi faced off with the newly-combined Elmwood/Plum City team for a key DSC match-up.
The Wolves looked tough in the game’s opening quarter, edging host Mondovi by two points for the 17-15 lead. The Buffaloes then went on the attack in the second, matching their first quarter offensive output while holding down E/PC to lead 30-23 at the half.
Mondovi continued to hold the visiting squad at arm’s length and hit enough free throws through the second half en route to the big 57-47 win.
Ford led the Buffaloes once again with 18 points, including three made “3’s,” followed by a big double-double from Purdy with 16 points and 15 rebounds and junior Sawyer Hayes with 10 points.
The Mondovi boys traveled to Durand for a non-conference showdown on Monday, Dec. 22, and will head to La Crosse Aquinas for their annual holiday tournament next Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29 and 30. The Buffaloes will kick off tournament play against Prairie du Chien on the 29th with a 4:15 p.m. tip-off scheduled.
