By John Rittenhouse
The Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team opened the Red Rock Conference play by posting an impressive road win Thursday in Edgerton.
Taking on a talented Flying Dutchmen squad on their home floor, the Patriots battled hard before pulling out a 69-66 victory at game’s end.
H-BC trailed at the first three quarter breaks before outscoring Edgerton 25-21 in the fourth quarter to win by three.
Edgerton led 16-15 after eight minutes of play before increasing the difference to three points (29-26) at the intermission with a 13-11 scoring edge in the second quarter.
H-BC trimmed the difference to one point (45-44) in the third quarter before winning the contest with its fourth-quarter rally.
Tyson Metzger, who put the Patriots in front 67-66 with a free throw with three seconds remaining, played a key role in H-BC’s victory.
Metzger made all eight of his two-point field goals he attempted in the game and was 10 of 14 from the floor (71 percent) overall.
The Patriot senior had a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Metzger also recorded five assists and three steals.
Kale Wiertzema and Trey Van Wyhe also turned in solid performances for H-BC.
Wiertzema, who had six rebounds, five assists and four steals, made 53 percent (seven of 13) of his field goals while scoring 18 points.
Van Wyhe cashed in on four of five field goals (80 percent) while scoring 12 points.
Tyler Bush added 11 points, five assists and three steals to the winning effort. Bush drained a pair of charity shots with one second left to put the game away.
Box score
Bush 2 0 7-10 11, Wysong 0 0 0-0 0, Roozeboom 0 0 3-4 3, Broesder 0 0 0-0 0, Wiertzema 4 3 1-3 18, Metzger 8 2 2-5 24, Leuthold 0 0 1-4 1, Van Wyhe 4 0 4-6 12.
Team statistics
H-BC: 23 of 43 field goals (54 percent), 18 of 32 free throws (56 percent), 27 rebounds, 11 turnovers.
Edgerton: 28 of 52 field goals (54 percent), six of eight free throws (75 percent), 31 rebounds, 17 turnovers.