By Jennifer Eisenbart
SPORTS EDITOR
It wasn’t exactly what you would’ve called the prettiest game the Burlington High School boys basketball team has played this year.
Shooting just 33 percent from the field for the game, the BHS boys still managed a 12-point halftime lead over Lake Geneva Badger Friday night, which proved to be pretty much the final margin in a 60-46 victory.
Burlington improved to 6-1 on the season and 5-0 in the Southern Lakes Conference with the win.
Two different factors played a part in the BHS victory: a solid defensive effort, plus better rebounding.
“You strive to play a perfect game, and I know that’s not going to happen,” said BHS coach Steve Berezowitz. “But I think we had that team down 18, 20 points, and we just had some lapses.”
While BHS hit just 18 of 54 shots from the field, Badger was limited to 13 total field goals – five from beyond the arc by Ian Weber, who led Badger with 19 points.
“Sometimes, that happens. Sometimes, a kid gets hot,” Berezowitz said of Weber.
The rest of the Badger squad managed just 27 points.
And while Badger picked up just 20 total rebounds in the contest, BHS was posting 37 – including 14 offensive rebounds, giving BHS a number of second-chance opportunities.
Senior Jayden Essman played perhaps his strongest game of the year, posting eight offensive rebounds and 12 total, as well as three assists, three steals and seven points.
“Jayden’s been playing pretty solid basketball over the last two, three weeks,” the coach said. “It doesn’t always show up in the box score.
“Jayden’s an unselfish player,” Berezowitz said. “He does the little things. You don’t keep stats on the things he does. It’s a huge thing to have him playing well.”
The Demons hit the winter break still undefeated in the Southern Lakes Conference, with a pair of non-conference games at the Indian Trails Holiday Tournament scheduled for Thursday and Saturday.
BHS was scheduled to play Indian Trail at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Kenosha Tremper at the same time Saturday.
The Demons then had a few days to get ready for what will be the most obvious test of the season so far: a trip to Wilmot Friday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.
Both teams are 5-0 in the SLC, and both have been identified as conference title favorites.
Wilmot is 8-1 overall heading into this week’s play, with just a 59-44 loss to Watertown on Nov. 27 tarnishing its record.
Mike Stevenson leads the Panthers with an average of 14.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Nate Hensel is averaging 11 points per game.
In addition, Wilmot’s defense has been stellar, allowing just 36.4 points per game.
“Again, it’s the first round,” said Berezowitz. “What we’re looking at is, we’ve got five non-conference games … five of our next seven.
“Wilmot will be another to find out where we at,” he added. “The two Kenosha games as well.
“You don’t need to peak in December. This is kind of at this mid-point. We’re playing good enough basketball to win right now. I know we’re not playing as well as you’re going to see us play.”
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