Union Grove Boys Rally Late but Fall 59-57 at Elkhorn
Union Grove High School’s boys basketball team mounted a late comeback but came up just short in a 59-57 road loss to Elkhorn on Wednesday night in Elkhorn, Wis. The Broncos erased a double-digit second-half deficit and tied the game in the final minutes, but missed opportunities on the glass in the closing sequence proved decisive.
Union Grove opened strongly, jumping out to a quick seven-point advantage and building a 22-15 lead with efficient offense and early energy. However, Elkhorn closed the first half on a surge, capitalizing on a series of Broncos’ defensive lapses and second-chance opportunities. By halftime, Elkhorn had flipped the margin and took a 34-33 lead into the locker room after repeatedly extending possessions with offensive rebounds.
The start of the second half swung further in Elkhorn’s favor. On back-to-back defensive possessions, Union Grove’s rotations broke down, leading to six quick points for the hosts within the first minute after the break. Elkhorn pushed the lead into double digits as the Broncos struggled to finish defensive possessions and control the boards, setting up what looked like an uphill climb.
Behind a standout offensive performance from Griffin Schultz, Union Grove responded. Schultz poured in a game-high 30 points and sparked the rally, attacking the rim and getting to the line. The Broncos steadily chipped away until Schultz converted an and-1 layup to tie the game at 54-54 with 2:24 remaining. Tyler Johnson added 12 points and Colten Tajnai contributed 9 points, providing key scoring support to keep Union Grove within striking distance.
In the final sequence, Union Grove created chances but could not come up with the rebounds it needed. After the game-tying basket, the Broncos fouled an Elkhorn player, who missed both free throws, but Union Grove failed to secure the defensive rebound. Elkhorn then missed a layup, yet another offensive board led to a foul and an and-1 finish that gave the hosts a 57-54 lead. The Broncos generated a wide-open corner 3-point attempt with about 30 seconds left that would have tied the game but the shot missed, forcing them into the foul game down the stretch.
Union Grove eventually got the ball back trailing 59-57 with eight seconds remaining but was unable to produce the tying or winning basket before time expired. Defensively, Quinn Schultz provided a notable highlight by stepping in to draw a charge, but Elkhorn’s persistent work on the offensive glass in the closing minutes ultimately separated the teams. The narrow defeat underscored both the Broncos’ resilience in erasing a double-digit deficit and the importance of finishing possessions on the boards in late-game situations.
