By Matt Perkins
SWANVILLE-Defending the three-point shot was a point of emphasis for Swanville’s boys basketball team in a 71-62 win at home against Upsala on Jan. 26.
The Bulldogs surrendered five long-range jumpers in just the first half of their previous meeting with the Cardinals, and Swanville coach Marvin Poegel wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.
“We guarded the three-point shot very well as a team,” Poegel said. “Upsala was unable to hit a three-pointer in the first half which gave the boys confidence.”
Mitch Primus led Swanville (12-4, 6-3) in scoring with 20 points and Brad Westrich led the Cardinals with 28.
Justin Sutton brought down 18 rebounds for the Bulldogs while adding 11 points. Sutton surpassed 1,000 rebounds for his career, an achivement rarely seen by Poegel.
“One thousand rebounds in a high school career is a stat very few people have attained,” he said. “It is because of Justin’s tenacity on the floor that he has accomplished such a feat.”
Swanville 71, Upsala 62
Swanville 37 34 – 71
Upsala 19 43 – 62
Bulldogs-Primus: 20 pts, 13 reb; Sutton: 11 pts, 18 reb; Defoe: 14 pts; Gutormson: 12 pts; Mettler: 7 pts, 4 ast.
Cardinals-Westrich: 28 pts.
