• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Craig boys open with win

Photo Gallery

Craig vs Stoughton Boys Basketball Opener

View Gallery

JANESVILLE — Craig High won a 50-45 nonconference overtime thriller over visiting Stoughton to kick off the 2012-13 boys basketball season Friday.

The Cougars’ fought back from a 10-point, 29-19 third-quarter deficit to win their first game of the season.

Craig trailed, 37-30, after three quarters, but rallied behind senior point guard Troy Malmanger to gain a 13-7 fourth-quarter edge to knot the game and send it into overtime, 43-43.

“I don’t know if we will see a team that is that physical,” Craig coach Mike Miller said. “They were big and physical and played very good defense, and it took us a while to adjust.’’

Craig used the double bonus in the OT to sink 5 of 9 free throws en route to a 7-2 edge for the final outcome.

Malmanger finished with a game-high 19 points, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter to bring Craig into the overtime. The senior had no doubt the Cougars would come back for the victory.

“I knew the game was ours,” Malmanger said. “I knew we couldn’t shoot any worse that we did in the first half.’’

Craig struggled to score 16 points in the first half, getting held to six points in the second quarter. The Cougars made just 15 of 42 shots from the field, including 7 of 15 from three-point range.

Fighting cold shooting, Stoughton’s height advantage and foul trouble, the Cougars trailed 23-16 at the half. Stoughton rolled with a 6-0 run to take a 29-19 lead after Malmanger hit a three-point basket to open the third quarter.

The Cougars found some footing, receiving five points from Jerry Ngobi and a second three from Malmanger en route to outscoring Stoughton 11-8 the rest of the way to trail, 37-30, heading into the fourth quarter.

Malmanger scored nine of Craig’s 13 points in the fourth quarter, while Craig held Stoughton to seven points to put the game into the overtime.

“I think they kids felt like they needed to get it done,” Miller said. “They believed in what they were doing and executed some plays, knocked down some free throws and made more plays than they did.’’

Miller gave credit to Malmanger for showing the way.

“He did everything we needed,” Miller said. “He knocked down key threes and he hit big three throws and did a great job handling the ball and running the offense.’’

CRAIG 50, STOUGHTON 45 (OT)

Stoughton (45)—Lehr, 1-4-7; Bower, 1-1-4; McGlynn, 5-2-12; Krueger, 1-0-2; McCann, 1-0-3; Hoaglin, 1-0-2; Logan, 0-1-1; Streich, 5-2-12. Totals: 16-8-45

Craig (50)—Ngobi, 5-0-12; Eden, 2-0-4; Malmanger, 5-5-19; Foster, 1-3-5; Schumacher, 0-3-3; Carlson, 0-2-2; Murphy, 2-0-5. Totals: 15-14-50.

Stoughton 13 10 14 7 2—45

Janesville Craig 10 6 14 13 7—50

Three point goals—Stoughton 5 (Lehr, McCann, Bower 2). Craig 7 (Ngobi 2, Malmager 4, Murphy). Free throws missed—Stoughton 5, Craig 15. Total fouls—Stoughton 17, Craig 16. Fouled out—Gerber, Eden, Foster.