Boys basketball team beats Evansville, Edgerton
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
It appears the challenging non-conference schedule is starting to pay dividends for the East Troy High School boys basketball team.
And it’s the rest of the Rock Valley Conference that is paying the price.
East Troy ran its RVC record to a perfect 6-0 with two more wins last week, including a 77-63 road decision Jan. 8 at Evansville. The Trojans are 7-4 overall.
That victory pushed the Trojans into sole possession of the top spot, ahead of Evansville and McFarland (4-2).
The win came on the heels of a dominating 91-59 victory over visiting Edgerton three days earlier.
“I asked the kids to take (advantage) of the opportunities that are out there, and Evansville was one of those statement opportunity games,” East Troy coach Darryl Rayfield said.
“I love where we are going and how our guys practice. I’m just so happy for them. We still have a long ways to go but it just feels good to win a big-time game on the road.”
East Troy sprinted out to a 39-24 first-half lead to take control. Evansville enjoyed a one-point advantage in the second half, but it wasn’t nearly enough to pull off a comeback.
Jake Nixon led the way with 31 points, followed by Joe and Jon Ciriacks with 18 apiece.
Nixon, averaging 23.5 points a game so far this season, continues to put together one solid offensive outing after another, Rayfield said.
“The play of Nixon on the offensive end was tremendous,” he said. “(Also), Jon Ciriacks played well on both ends of the floor. He is really playing well.”
The outcome never was in doubt in the win over Edgerton, as East Troy led 49-27 at halftime and rolled from there. The Trojans outscored the Tide 42-32 in the final 18 minutes.
Johnathan Brehm led four scorers in double digits with 19 points, followed by Nixon with 18, Jon Ciriacks with 17 and Joe Ciriacks with 14.
East Troy hosts Palmyra-Eagle Thursday in an RVC crossover contest at 7:15 p.m., followed by another battle with the South Jan. 19, when it travels to Beloit Turner, also at 7:15.
Palmyra has struggled so far and began the week at 1-4 in the RVC, but Turner opened play on top of the South Division at 5-1.
