Lake Mills over Wisconsin Dells

In my second chance to see Wisconsin Dells play, I watched them take on Lake Mills. Lake Mills has been a very good team in the past five years or so. Lake Mills once again proved that despite their lack of height they are always a tough out and will be battle tell the very end. Tonight Lake Mills showed it time and time again.

The game started off with Wisconsin Dells playing their classic zone defense which has become their staple in the last few years. I've really become a believer in playing a zone defense at the high school level as time and again I've seen teams continue to struggle against the zone. Tonight was no different as Lake Mills struggled against the zone early on and Dells got out to the early lead. Eventually Lake Mills settled down and started finding open players in the corners and the three started to fall. Lake Mills was led by 6'2 sophomore Charlie Bender who hit three three point shots in the first half. On the other side Dells struggled immensely and couldn't get anything to fall. The Dells top two scores 5'10 junior Bryson Funmaker and 6'2 junior Brett Hirst went scoreless in the first half leading to a Lake Mills lead of 68-57 at half.

In the second half Lake Mills was able to penetrate the Dells zone a little bit easier. Lake Mills was able to find openings in the high post which led to easy buckets coming from the weak side. Lake Mills was also able to pitch in a few three point shots as well from the outside as well. Late in the game Funmaker finally hit a couple shots and Hirst got himself going by getting fouled and making some free throws. In the end Lake Mills made just enough free throws and the Dells continued to struggle. Despite Lake Mills best efforts to throw the game and ball away, Dells just couldn't capitalize.

Top Players 
Dylan Anchor 6'3 senior Wisconsin Dells- One of the few Dells players to play some what well. Did a nice job of scoring in the post and battling on the glass. Also showed the ability to step out and hit the three.

Charlie Bender 6'2 sophomore Lake Mills- Really carried his team in the first half with the three point shot as well as helping handle the ball against the zone defense. Hit a pair of nice floaters in the second half as well.

Adam Moen 6'3 sophomore Lake Mills- In the second half really was the man finding the opening in the middle of the Dells offense. Was really the lone post scorer in the entire game.

Box Score
LM 68- Bender 18 JT Toepfer 14 Moen 13 Mike Harrington 9 Jaxson Retrum 9 Matt Johnson 3 Drew Stoddard 2
WD 57- Anchor 12 Hirst 11 Riley Eck 9 Sam Millard 8 Dylan Musiedlak 8 Funmaker 6 Dyland Nevar 6

Some final thoughts I think Lake Mills will be a tough out but, not sure they have the height or the depth to truly make it very far come playoff time. Wisconsin Dells has probably been over ranked and will fall back to earth as they should be but, honestly they probably underachieved in tonights game.