Lions have won four in a row

New Berlin - The New Berlin Eisenhower boys basketball team used a big third quarter to defeat Greendale, 54-47, on the road on Friday, finishing out a 2-0 week.

The Lions are still tied for first in the Woodland-West Division with Pewaukee, each with 7-2 records. Eisenhower (11-3 overall) has won four in a row and seven out of the last eight.

Next up for the Lions is a home game with Whitnall (8-3) on Friday. The second-place Falcons (7-2) trailed Woodland-East Division leaders, Brown Deer (8-1) by a game.

Greendale dropped to 5-7, 4-5 in the Woodland-West Division, which ties them for fourth. The loss to Eisenhower was their fourth in five outings.

While Eisenhower took a 15-11 first quarter lead, the Panthers went on a 17-11 run in the second period and took a 28-26 lead into halftime.

"We showed some moxie in second half," Ike coach Dave Scheidegger said. "Our toughness wore them down. Our kids showed character and inner strength. We made two adjustments that put the kids back in their comfort zone.

"The first quarter was a feeling out process for both teams. It was a big game on the road against a decent team."

The Lions came out and went on a 17-8 tear in the third quarter to roll into the fourth period with a 43-36 lead, which held up when the teams played even (11-11).

The Lions went 22-for-26 free throw line, an .846 percentage, and they nailed four 3-pointers (Mitch Arman, Charlie Sirek, Corbin Messman, Brett Hanson).

Eisenhower junior guard Reed Timmer led the way with 20 points and Sirek had 10. Arman had eight and Messman added seven.

Scheidegger had special praise for the way Sirek and Messman stepped up their game.

Sandro Pesqueira, the Lions second leading scorer, was held to two points, as he picked up two quick fouls at the beginning of the game and also to start the third quarter. But Scheidegger was impressed with his leadership.

"I was pleased with the way he was on the bench in the huddle," Scheidegger said. "He showed a maturity that you don't usually see from players.

"Some guys might sulk, but Sandro was like another coach, helping out. I was very impressed."

Greendale's Jordan Perez had 19, Josh Michaels 14 and Cameron Rowe finished with nine, including two 3-pointers.

"When kids are forced to play sometime, they become more accountable," Scheidegger said. "It is unbelievable the way they are growing in their roles."

Nonconference

The Lions beat Brookfield East, 53-51, on Jan. 2 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in a nonconference tilt coming out of the holiday.

Timmer was the only Eisenhower player in double figures with 32 points, hitting 10-of-15 free throws and three 3-pointers. Sandro Pesqueira was Ike's next highest scorer with eight points.

Brookfield East's Ryan McBride hit 6-of -8 free throws for 15 points, while Mike Novak added 12.

It was a competitive game throughout four quarters, as Ike led 14-11 after one quarter and 25-21 at halftime. A close third quarter (13-12 gave the Lions a 38-33 lead going into the fourth quarter.

East (3-7) then won the final period, 18-15, but it was too little, too late.