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Parker boys can't finish off Beloit

JANESVILLE — Janesville Parker boys basketball coach Jim LeMire continues to utter just one word in Big Eight play—“finish.”

For the second game in a row, LeMire’s Vikings have started strong, only to fade down the stretch. On a cold, snowy Saturday afternoon at Barkin Arena, Parker jumped in front 10-0 at Beloit, but the Purple Knights came back to win, 60-46.

Parker stayed with the Knights through the first three quarters, but the Viking offense went AWOL in the final period. After trailing 43-40 at the end of three, Parker could muster only one field goal in the fourth quarter combined with four free throws.

Deon Lowery and Jahlil Smith led Beloit Memorial with 17 and 11 points, respectively.

Parker’s 6-10 senior Riley Grafft led Parker with 16 points, but was hampered with foul trouble. His third foul, a charge, took him out of the game with 3:20 left in the first half.

LeMire did not challenge the call and said after the game that Grafft’s foul problems were a factor, but not as great a factor as the Vikings’ offense.

“For the second game in a row we started off well but could not finish,” LeMire said. “This is a four-quarter game, and you have to be able to play well to the end. We have not been able to do that.”

In addition to poor overall shooting and Grafft’s foul problems, the Vikings were ice cold from the free-throw line, making just six out of 20 attempts.

“This is something we must keep working at,” LeMire said. “It’s not something you can coach during the season, players must continue to work on this all year round. Obviously, we have more work to do from the free-throw line.”

LeMire said he was pleased with the team defense and individual efforts by D’Merius Holbrook and Jesse Logue. Holbrook stepped in for Grafft and scored 10 points, while Logue contributed seven.

BELOIT 60, PARKER 46

Parker (46)—Logue, 3-1-7; Sam, 1-0-2; Fox, 3-2-8; Grafft, 7-2-16; Holbrook, 5-0-10; Scharenbroch, 1-0-2; Hesser, 0-1-1. Totals: 20-6-46.

Beloit (60)—Young, 1-0-2; Lowery, 4-6-17; Smith, 4-0-11; Evans, 3-0-6; Mauel, 2-1-5; Lindsey, 3-1-8; Sims, 2-6-11. Totals: 19-14-60.

Parker 14 9 17 6—45

Beloit 8 17 18 17—60

Three-point goals—Beloit 8 (Lowery 3, Smith 3, Lindsey, Sims). Free throws missed—Parker 14, Beloit 5. Total fouls—Parker 17, Beloit 15.

Sophomores—Parker 65, Beloit 55. Parker high scorers: Tyler Teubert, 24; Matt Fiedler 21.