By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Union Grove High School boys’ basketball team proved Tuesday night that even if their top scorer – Brett Van Vreede – is shut down they can still find a way to win.
With Van Vreede held to just nine points, the Broncos got a career night from Grayson Catania, who led all scorers with 26 points in a 46-41 win over Racine St. Catherine’s at home.
Catania have five threes, three two-pointers and made five of six free throws to carry Union Grove to the victory.
The two teams battled to a 9-9 tie after one quarter, with the Broncos taking a slim 19-17 lead at the half.
Union Grove came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Angels 16-5 to build a 13-point lead – 35-22 – going into the final eight minutes. They then held off a late charge by St. Catherine’s to secure the win.
The Broncos made eight of 11 free throws in the game, including four of six in the final quarter.
The win improves the Bronco boys record to 3-0 overall. They are 1-0 in the Southern Lakes Conference.
Racine St. Catherine’s is now 1-1 on the year.
After a slow start that led to an 11-11 tie after one quarter, the Union Grove High School boys’ basketball team finally got things going in a 57-48 victory over Delavan-Darien Dec. 2.
“We kind of ramped things up with our press,” head coach David Pettit said.
That led to a 14-6 second-quarter margin with gave the Broncos a 25-17 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, the press continued to produce results as Union Grove built a lead of 15 points before Delavan-Darien made a run.
The Comets eventually cut the Bronco lead to six points in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer.
Brett Van Vreede led all scorers with 24 points.
“Most importantly, he had 10 rebounds,” Pettit said.
The Broncos struggled at the free throw line making 12 of 20. Pettit noted that the team missed several front end of bonuses that could have helped put the game away.
“We’re looking to close the game out,” Pettit said.
Union Grove played at Westosha Central in an SLC game on Thursday, and will be at Shoreland Lutheran for a non-conference game on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Next week, the team will be Burlington on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. for an SLC matchup, and will host Waterford on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in another SLC game.
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