The Ellsworth Panthers boys’ basketball team struggled both offensively and defensively in the opening seven minutes on the road against Baldwin-Woodville as the Blackhawks built a 20-1 lead that ultimately proved to be too much to overcome.

Although Ellsworth battled back throughout the second half, the Panthers couldn’t overcome the massive deficit and dropped to 2-5 overall with the 64-51 loss on the road on Tuesday, Dec. 13. First-year head coach Derek Staley spoke about the lopsided first seven minutes of action.

“They were making shots, we weren’t, but we were just turning the ball over way too much,” Staley said. “We couldn’t get out of our way. We knew they’d be a big, strong and physical team. We turned the ball over and didn’t rebound early, and that’s a bad recipe.”

Part of Ellsworth’s lackluster start was the youth, inexperience and nerves of playing an important Middle Border Conference game on the road against a talented and veteran Baldwin-Woodville team. The Blackhawks exploited Ellsworth’s slow start and built a massive lead early.

Baldwin-Woodville grabbed a 6-0 advantage just over one minute into the game and then buried a wing three-pointer to make it 9-0. After a steal and a layup made it an 11-0 run in less than three minutes, coach Staley burned a timeout to try to hamper Baldwin- Woodville’s momentum. However, the Blackhawks appeared to be a runaway train as they grabbed multiple offensive rebounds and made putback layups that culminated in the aforementioned 20-1 lead just seven minutes into the game.

“We just didn’t get off of the bus,” Staley said. “We weren’t ready to go and you could just see it in our body language. We weren’t in stances on defense and weren’t moving on offense. You just can’t spot a good team 20 points.”

Although the game had already essentially been decided, Ellsworth started playing favorable basketball, limited turnovers and began to balance the rebounding battle. Throughout the final 11 minutes of the first half, the Panthers outscored Baldwin-Woodville 18-17 and went into halftime trailing 37-19.

The Panthers started the second half on a quick 5-0 run when senior guard Jurell Gooden made a mid-range jumper and then buried a corner three-point on the ensuing possession to make it a 13-point game, 37-24.

Baldwin-Woodville once again regained control of the game with a 22-9 run from the 16-minute mark of the second half until there were only six minutes left in regulation. The Blackhawks’ run gave Baldwin-Woodville a 59-33 lead going into the closing stretch of the second half.

Even with a deficit greater than 20 points, Staley’s Panthers refused to fold and continued to battle. He spoke about his team’s effort and their response to adversity throughout the game.

“That’s this group of kids and it’s a credit to them,” Staley said. “We’re learning a lot of things offensively and that showed tonight, but they’re going to give it every night. I’m never going to have a doubt about that. They battle and they fight and have all year.”

Ellsworth began a late scoring surge when freshman forward George Rohl used a post move to make a crafty layup and then drained a deep three-point a couple of possessions later. After a Baldwin-Woodville bucket, the aforementioned Gooden slashed into the lane and made a three-point play the old-fashioned way.

Shortly thereafter, Ellsworth junior Stefano Riolfo made a corner three-pointer, and then senior Kaeden Graff hit a fading three from the wing to continue the Panthers’ scoring surge. Although Ellsworth ultimately came up short, the Panthers finished the last six minutes of regulation on an 18-5 run and had finally found an offensive rhythm. Coach Staley spoke about some of his team’s flashes of excellence throughout the game.

“It’s part of a bunch of inexperienced guys and it’s going to come together, we just don’t know when,” Staley said. “Hopefully that’s soon, but we don’t know when it’s all going to come together.”

Perhaps no player will be more important to Ellsworth’s development than freshman starting center George Rohl, who finished the game against Baldwin-Woodville with 13 points, nine rebounds and an assist.

Rohl has provided interior scoring, opportunities to stretch the floor and has also served as Ellsworth’s primary interior presence. He’s currently second on the team in scoring and first in rebounds by a substantial margin. Staley spoke about Rohl’s importance to the team and his development.

“He’s got a lot to learn with physicality on the boards and learning how to box people out and use his size a little better,” Staley said. “The potential is there and he had a nice night for us tonight. His ceiling is really high, that’s why I say he has a long way to go even though he’s played really well.”

After the 64-51 loss on the road against Baldwin-Woodville, the Panthers suffered a 77-49 defeat at home against the Somerset Spartans on Friday, Dec. 16. The pair of losses dropped Ellsworth’s record to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in Middle Border Conference play.

The Panthers have an extended break before they compete in the Elmwood/Plum City Tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 28, in Elmwood. Ellsworth is slated to play Cadott on the first day of the tournament. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Ellsworth senior guard Lance Gipford creates space on a defender during the Panthers’ road game against Baldwin-Woodville on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Photo by Reagan Hoverman