Black Hawk boys nearly come all the way back

The Grafton High School boys’ basketball team nearly came all the way back last Friday against Brookfield Academy.

The Black Hawks missed a tying three-pointer in the final seconds and put in a putback from point-blank range at the buzzer in a 72-71 loss.

Josiah Gonzales scored 17 points, going 5-for-12 on three-pointers. Tommy Lutz had 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field and 11 rebounds. Caleb Battles had nine points, four assists and five steals.

The Hawks fell behind, 27-11, in the first half and were down, 43-30, at the break.

As a result, coach Damon James went to his bench.

“We went deeper because we felt like the first group wasn’t performing to the best of their abilities,” he said. “Other guys who had some contributions gave us some great energy off the bench.”

James praised the play of Brady Eader, Braxton Boehlke, Parker Shaw and Ian Cornelius.

The Hawks trailed, 63-47, with more than nine minutes to play before mounting a comeback. Down 70-57 with six minutes left, they outscored the Blue Knights 14-2 the rest of the way.

Caleb Battles had seven points in the run, including a three-pointer. Tommy Lutz had four points and Jack Marti had a free throw.

The Hawks missed two game-tying three-pointers in the final 17 seconds.

“I’m trying to find some positives out of this. There are some positives. We’ve just got to stick with it, stay the course,” James said.

“We’re just trying to put some things together. We’re getting close.”

Grafton was to play at Port Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The Hawks play at Homestead on Friday, Jan. 10.

Morgan, Morgan go double-double

Grafton’s girls took care of business in Beloit, 72-65, on Dec. 30 behind the Morgan sisters.

Senior Marissa scored 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field and had 14 rebounds.

Sophomore Melanie had 12 points, going 4-for-9 on three-pointers, and 10 rebounds.

Coach Matt D’Amato said the Morgans played well, and he praised a couple of others.

Sophomore guard Cali Tagliapietra got in foul trouble early but managed it well, he said. Sophomore Liliana Verplancke scored 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting, mostly on layups in transition, D’Amato said.

He would like to curb the turnovers. Grafton had 26, more than it’s goal of fewer than 20.

“We’re just not there yet. We’re working on it,” D’Amato said.

The Hawks’ defense figured out Beloit’s rotations and forced them to shoot under pressure, he said.

They played Beloit after it filled in last season when West Bend East cut its varsity season after a few games. Grafton traveled to Beloit to return the favor this year.

Grafton was play at Port Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 7. It hosts Homestead on Friday, Jan. 10.