By John Rittenhouse
The Ellsworth boys’ basketball team improved its season record to 13-1 with a 65-41 Camden Conference victory in Minneota Friday.
The home-standing Vikings kept the game close through three quarters of play, but the Panthers canned nine of 12 shots in the fourth quarter to spur a 24-7 scoring run that gave EHS its fourth consecutive victory.
"The defense was there, and we made up our minds to run our offense in the second half. Those were the keys," said Panther coach Ken Kvaale.
A lack of patience hurt the Panthers during the first two quarters of the game, which ended with Ellsworth sporting 14-9 and 27-26 leads.
The Panthers increased the difference to seven points (41-34) by the end of the third quarter before putting the game away with a big fourth period.
Curt Schilling, who had 10 rebounds, was plagued with foul trouble most of the night. He did lead the fourth-quarter charge by scoring all eight of his points in the period.
Brant Deutsch, who led the Panthers with 12 rebounds, scored six of his 14 points in the fourth period. Travis Jenniges, who had five assists and three steals in the game, scored six of his 10 points in the final stanza.
Dylan Kvaale scored a team-high 19 points and distributed five assists in the game. Blake Brommer chipped in three steals to the cause.
Ellsworth plays in Ivanhoe tonight before hosting Lakeview Tuesday.
Box score
Schilling 3 0 2-2 8, Jenniges 3 1 1-2 10, Kvaale 5 3 0-0 19, Sieff 0 0 2-2 2, Deutsch 6 0 2-3 14, Brommer 1 2 0-0 8, Gacke 1 0 0-0 2, Klaassen 1 0 0-0 2.
Team statistics
Ellsworth: 26 of 59 field goals (44 percent), seven of nine free throws (78 percent), 44 rebounds, nine turnovers.