Little Chute wins 14th straight game

Updated: Friday, 13 Jan 2012, 11:26 PM CST
Published : Friday, 13 Jan 2012, 11:15 PM CST

LITTLE CHUTE - So just how good is the Little Chute boys basketball team playing?

Ask Xavier.

Friday night, Little Chute hosted Xavier in the Boys Basketball GameTime Game of the Week and the Hawks found out what 13 previous opponents discovered â€" the Mustangs are real good.

Off the opening tip, Turner Botz drained a jumper and the rout was on. Little Chute scored the game’s first 12 points and never let off the gas as the Mustangs defeated Xavier, 59-42, in an Eastern Valley Conference game.

With the win, Little Chute closes the first half of the conference season at 8-0.

“I’m pleased with how the guys are playing,” Little Chute coach Mickey Martin said. “It was a solid win against a rival in our conference. “It was one of those nights where everything came together for us.”

In front of a packed gym, Little Chute, ranked No. 1 in the FOX 11 Top 11 boys basketball poll, put on a show for the home crowd. Kenneth Lowe threw down a dunk and Botz and Lowe almost connected on an alley-oop dunk.

Furthermore, Botz (20 points) showed why he might be the best player in the FOX 11 coverage area. The 6-foot-6 junior scored on an array of moves, including a turnaround fade-away jumper on the baseline which is impossible to defend.

As impressive as Botz was, though, it was Little Chute’s defense that stymied the Hawks. Xavier entered the game averaging 63 points per game, but after the first half, Xavier trailed 30-10.

Xavier was a putrid 3-of-23 from the field (13 percent).

“We played pretty well on both ends of the floor,” Martin said. “We were able to take away their perimeter game and their threes. That’s kind of their M.O. We were able to take that away.”

Little Chute didn’t rest on its first half, either. The Mustangs opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run to up the lead to 40-10 and the game was over.

“We started off nice,” Martin said. “Then we come out the third quarter and duplicate the same. We basically had the game with those two runs.

“We talk about getting off to a strong start in the third quarter, as most coaches do. We want to come out and score that first possession and just try to build on it there. We were able to do that.”

Little Chute led 48-26 after the third quarter. The Mustangs shot 8-of-12 in the third, with Botz scoring six points.

Friday, Little Chute was at its best, or close to it. In addition to Botz, guard Mitch Ciske added 13 points, Lowe 10 and Tyler Job 9, and defensively, when it mattered, Xavier was handcuffed.

“The guys are just playing good basketball all the way through,” Martin said. “We have our breakdowns now and then where teams get their runs, get some baskets. We’re pretty good offensively and usually counter that. Right now, we’re on a nice roll.”

The roll will be on ice for two weeks. In a weird scheduling quirk, Little Chute doesn’t play until Jan. 27. It had to move its Jan. 19 game with Waupaca, so the Mustangs will get a little rest before entering the second half of the EVC season.

“That’s fine,” Martin said. “It’ll give us a chance to catch up mentally and get a little bit stronger, a little bit healthy and get ready for the second round of the conference.”

• Notes: Little Chute is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association’s Division 3 poll. … Seth Maertz scored 10 points to lead the Hawks. … Little Chute is 40-2 over the last three seasons in EVC play. … Little Chute next plays at Berlin on Jan. 27. … Xavier next plays Thursday against Winneconne..
• Game ball: Botz, whose offense coupled with Little Chute’s defense, was too much for the Hawks.  
• Numbers game:   13 Percent Xavier shot in the first half.

LITTLE CHUTE 59, XAVIER 42
Xavier……..…..6   4 16 16 - 42
Little Chute…19 11 18 11 - 59
Xavier (5-7, 4-4)
Seth Maertz 10, Jack Klister 5, Bobby Ramlet 2, Troy Lenz 5, Dru Harris 3, Bradu Johnson 3, Matt Ferris 7, Ben Jense 6, Michael Sawasky 1. 3-PT: 6 (Maertz 2, Klister 1, Lenz 1, Harris 1, Ferris 1. FG: 14-49. FT: 9-13. Turnovers: 13. F: 12. Fouled out: None.
Little Chute (14-0, 8-0)
Turner Botz 20, Mitch Ciske 13, Kenneth Lowe 10, Tyler Job 9, Jed Albers 2, Ben Kempen 5. 3-PT: 4 (Ciske 3, Kempen 1). FG: 23-46. FT: 8-10. Turnovers: 14. F: 16. Fouled out: None.

doug.ritchay@wluk.com