Burlington 70, Mount Horeb 65 (OT)
By Mike Ramczyk
It had everything the people could possibly want, on a Saturday afternoon two days after Thanksgiving.
Burlington boys basketball hosted Division 2 nonconference foe Mount Horeb in a holiday treat of a season opener, and fans enjoyed plenty of leftovers from turkey dinner – including late lead changes and an extra session.
Junior point guard Nick Klug pumped in 22 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, Luke Geiger added 20, and the Demons edged Mount Horeb, 70-65, in overtime to open the 2016-2017 season.
Burlington trailed, 47-46, with four minutes left in the game, but was able to knot things at 57-57 at the end of regulation, thanks in large part to clutch shooting from the charity stripe.
The Demons converted 23 of 28 attempts, including four each from Geiger, Liam Safar and Harrison George along with three from Grant Tully.
The momentum carried into the extra period, as Burlington scored the first five points.
Tully added 10 points, and the Demons benefitted from 34 rebounds, led by Brock Halbach’s seven and six each from Geiger and George.
“Rebounding and free throw shooting,” said Burlington coach Steve Berezowitz when asked about keys to victory. “If we win in those two areas, usually you have a pretty good shot at coming out ahead.”
“I am not sure we wanted this close of a game, but every team needs a close game early in the season. Scoring the first five points in overtime was a huge swing in our favor, but what ultimately won the game was our ability to make free throws.”
Halbach and Dale Damon fouled out for the Demons, who knocked down five 3-pointers.
Mount Horeb had three players score in double figures, but it only connected on 11 of 20 free throws.
Berezowitz said it was a typical first game in that the Demons didn’t shoot well overall, and the players are still making offensive adjustments on the fly and building chemistry.
“We have been tweaking some things offensively, so we are still a ways from being completely comfortable with it,” he said. “Even if kids played large minutes last year, they most likely are still in a new role this year. All of that takes time.”
George added nine points and Safar added six.
Klug added five rebounds.
Burlington travels to New Berlin West Thursday before hosting Mukwonago Tuesday, Dec. 6. Berezowitz said both teams will pose a challenge physically.
The Demons won’t have it easy before opening Southern Lakes Conference play, where several area coaches have picked Burlington as a favorite.
“That (winning conference) is always our first goal so I sure hope our guys expect to be in that discussion,” Berezowitz said. “Of course our play on the court is all that matters.”
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