By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The East Troy High School boys basketball team just keeps rolling along.
East Troy picked up its 10th straight win last week in dominating fashion with an 82-49 Rock Valley Conference victory Feb. 11 over visiting Jefferson.
The win improved the Trojan to 15-4 overall and perfect 13-0 in the RVC, two games ahead of Evansville’s 11-2 with just three regular-season games remaining.
East Troy is ranked seventh in Division 3, according to the latest www.wissports.net poll.
A fast start for the Trojans, which led to a 44-19 halftime lead, was the key to the easy win, East Troy coach Darryl Rayfield said.
“We just really came out and played a complete half,” he said. “We shared the ball as a group and had a great defensive effort.”
Jake Nixon continued his torrid scoring pace with 28 points, followed by Joe Ciriacks with 25, Jake Remsza with nine and Johnathan Brehm with eight.
Rayfield said he’s pleased with where his team is at, especially with the end of the regular season and the tournament now in sight.
“We are playing pretty well right now,” he said. “We’re a very confident group. These guys are getting that edge that only comes from being there.
“Basketball around here is always at a high level. Winning runs deep, and the state knows that. That’s why we are able to schedule great teams (for nonconference games), is because of the respect they have for our program, and it gets us ready for now.”
East Troy traveled to Edgerton Tuesday night. The Trojans host Evansville Thursday, and with a win, can clinch the outright RVC North Division crown.
The Trojans beat Evansville 77-63 earlier this season – but Rayfield expects a tough fight.
“(Evansville) is playing their best basketball right now,” he said. “It will be a high-level game for sure.”
Rayfield knows his team has to accomplishment something this week.
“This week is big because we gave ourselves opportunities along the way to play for the conference championship and to get a high seed (in the tournament) this weekend,” Rayfield said. “It all runs together (this weekend).
“Every single day and game matters. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has made it this way. If you can get one home game or two, it helps tremendously, and losses and scores of games and who you play is crucial.”
