The Beloit Trojans defeated the Ellsworth Bearcats, 71-39, Friday, December 20, for their third consecutive win.
With the win, Beloit improves to 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the NCAA. On Friday, January 3, the Trojans will host the Lyons Lions, who are 3-3 overall and 1-1 in their first season in the league.
More than two minutes into the contest, Dax Leiker made a shot to give Ellsworth a 2-0 lead. Senior Eli Johnson’s basket evened the score before senior Jackson Cheney made a three-pointer to put Beloit ahead, 5-2.
After Leiker’s second basket, junior Brody Litton made a bucket. After a Bearcat free throw, junior Charlie Burke hit a trey to put the Trojans’ offense in gear. The teams alternated baskets to close the opening quarter; Beloit led, 12-7, going to the second.
Two baskets by Johnson and threes by Cheney and Burke continued the Trojans’ surge. Beloit’s 15-6 run pushed the lead to 22-11. After the Bearcats scored six of the next nine points, Cheney added two buckets to close the half.
The Trojans led, 29-17, at the break. The third quarter opened with the teams alternating baskets inside the arc and beyond it. Junior Luke Cheney’s trey gave Beloit a 34-22 edge.
The Trojans outscored Ellsworth, 14-5, the rest of the quarter to lead, 48-27, headed to the fourth. Beloit scored four of the next five points to complete its 21-6 run that pushed the edge to 52-28.
Cooper McGowan then scored five in the visitors’ 9-6 spurt, which preceded Johnson’s uncontested layup. A Bearcat basket was followed by Johnson and Jackson Cheney each adding a bucket to extend the lead to 64-39, prompting a timeout.
Beloit’s reserves completed the contest, adding the last seven points of the 11-0 spurt that closed the 32-point win.
Johnson led Beloit's offensive proficiency as his 26 points accounted for most of the winning margin.
Beloit Head Coach Ryan Eilert said that the Bearcats switching to one-on-one defense spurred the senior’s success and his team’s ability to build a large lead.
“Once they went man, Eli had a field game,” the coach said. “We were able to separate at that point.”
Eilert said that his team making eight treys in the contest was a crucial factor in the win.
“The threes kept them honest,” he said. “We got a couple in the third when they went to zone.”
Eilert said that he is pleased with his team’s progress so far. The coach said his team’s excellence last season (which included placing third at the Class 3A state tournament) motivates his current players.
“Anytime you experience success, you want to try to repeat it,” Eilert said. “We’ve got a long way to go to get where we want to get.”
Eli Johnson led the Beloit boards in double digits scoring 26 points followed by Jackson Cheney with 17 and Charlie Burke 12. Luke Cheney scored 7 points; Joel Fuller 3; Grant Larsen, Kale Leners, and Brody Litton each 2 points.