Buffaloes hit stumbling block with 0-3 week on the hardwood

by Beth Kraft

It was a rough week for the Mondovi boys basketball team, which dropped three games to local rivals and Dunn-St. Croix Conference opponent Elmwood/Plum City to fall below .500 to 8-9 overall on the season.

The skid began at home with a 33-point loss to Gilmanton, 63-30, in non-conference play on Monday, Feb. 2. The Buffaloes stuck with the Panthers in the first quarter but a 20-4 run by Gilmanton in the second put Mondovi behind, 33-15, at the half. The Buffaloes’ offense continued to struggle in the second half, putting just 15 points on the board in the remainder of the game while Gilmanton doubled that total to win going away.

Greg Poeschel was the leading scorer in the game with nine points followed by Hayden Ford with five and Blake Purdy and Jake Ede with four points apiece.

Mondovi’s second local rivalry game of the week brought neighboring Eleva-Strum to the gym the very next night on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The Buffaloes kept the score much closer throughout the game, but fell just short in the fourth quarter to take the 46-42 loss.

Mondovi trailed by eight points, 28-20, at the half, but locked down the pressure on E-S in the third to build momentum, holding the Cards to just five points. The Buffaloes continued to challenge for the lead as the clock wound down in the game, but just couldn’t get a few needed offensive opportunities to fall while E-S converted precious points at the free throw line, knocking down 15-of-20 on the night.

Purdy led the Buffaloes with 12 points and 20 rebounds followed by Ford with 10 points and Poeschel with nine.

Tied in the DSC standings with Elmwood/Plum City for second place, the Buffaloes’ game with the Wolves on Friday, Feb. 6, was key to Mondovi’s conference title hopes. Having beaten the Wolves by 10 in their first meeting, Mondovi was hoping for a repeat performance but the tables turned just the opposite way.

The Buffaloes trailed host E/PC by six following the opening quarter and fell behind even further, 31-22, by halftime. Mondovi matched the Wolves’ offensive output much more evenly in the second half, but couldn’t cut into the host school’s lead to gain the advantage, resulting in the  62-52 loss.

Purdy led Mondovi on the scoreboard once again with 18 points followed by Ede with 11 and Cole Kamla with 10.

The loss dropped Mondovi to third in the DSC standings at 6-3 through last week’s games. The Buffaloes now trail both Elmwood/Plum City and Colfax, who are both 7-3.

Mondovi will look to get back on track in the conference standings with two DSC games this week. The Buffaloes hosted Saint Croix Central on Monday, Feb. 9, and will head to Spring Valley on Thursday, Feb. 12.