Blue Devils spoil Pettersen's debut 77-66 over Panthers

• Plum City's Derrick Gath and Ellsworth's Adam Lee

Adam Lee looks to make a head fake on Derrick Gath.

Talk about it

PLUM CITY - Plum City High School's boys basketball team handed Scott Pettersen his first loss in his first game at Ellsworth's head coach 77-66 Thursday.

Ellsworth took a 7-0 lead to open the game and led by that many points in the second quarter. The Panthers led at halftime 37-31 as PC gave up seven three pointers and struggled at the free-throw line.

But Plum City made adjustments to slow down EHS' Chris Niedfeldt, who had 15 points in the first half. They also used a press that wore down Ellsworth while using the fast break to score transition baskets. Plum City also dominated the glass as Ryan Flynn led the way in rebounding.

A 7-0 at the end of the third quarter turned a 49-48 Ellsworth lead into a 55-49 deficit. The run continued through the fourth quarter as PC led 64-49 before the Panthers made their first basket of the quarter. A pair of trifectas by Niedfeld and Adam Kearns and 12-2 counter-rally by the Panthers that brought them to within five a 66-61 with under three minutes remaining but the Devils closed out the game from the free throw line.

PC had five players in double figures led by Chase Luebker's 20 points while Niedfeldt ahd 24 points to lead all scorers. The Devils improve to 2-0.

Tags: youth sports, boys basketball, sports, plum, city, ellsworth