The No. 2-seeded Prentice Buccaneers lost in their first semifinal appearance since 1999 against the No. 3-seeded Southwestern Wildcats, who were a first-time qualifier in the tournament. They made it after a tight game in the Westby Sectional Final with a 44-43 victory.
Before Madison:
The Buccaneers were led by the Senior Evan Lord with 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Right behind him is Senior Aidan Hause with 17 PPG and 7.1 RPG.
For the Wildcats, Junior Carsen Splinter has led Southwestern with 15.7 PPG and 6 RPG. His Senior teammate, Aiden Keleher, averages 16 PPG.
First Half – Buccaneers Stuck in a Drought
The Wildcats won the opening tipoff but couldn’t make a three-pointer from Carsen Splinter. Then, Aiden Keleher of the Wildcats stole the ball to make a fastbreak layup. During a layup attempt from the Wildcats, Matt Heikkinen of the Buccaneers blocked the ball, keeping the score at 2-0. Then, Hardy Hueckman from Prentice would tie the game with two free throws.
By the 10-minute mark, Prentice shot 2/13 from range while Southwestern shot 4/12. By the midpoint of the half, the Wildcats held a comfortable lead of 14-6 after a Carsen Splinter fastbreak layup.
The Wildcats slowed their offense to take more conservative shots while not giving the Buccaneers the opportunity to shoot. After a last-second layup from Prentice, the first half ended in a 26-19 Wildcats lead.
The Buccaneers’ inability to shoot was a glaring issue. Only shooting 6/29 (21%) from the field and 1/10 beyond the arc. Carsen Splinter led the team with eight points and four rebounds. Evan Lord and Hardy Hueckman are tied with seven for the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers needed to shut down the paint and make more effective shots to come back from the seven-point deficit.
They didn’t hold a lead at all in the first half of the game. Lord needed to pass the ball more or take better shots as he has hit only 3-13 from the field and 1-6 beyond the arc.
Second Half – The Ship Has Sunk
The Buccaneers continued to struggle defending the paint as Carsen Splinter leaped over two defenders to make a layup. After DeMuth scored three and two free throws from a fouled layup. The Wildcats increased their lead to 41-25 at the 14-minute mark.
The Wildcats maintained their lead of 35-49 with the Buccaneers still struggling with shooting inside and outside the paint. Prentice began to pressure ball handlers, leading to forcing three turnovers and seven points.
Hueckman made a jumper in the paint and a fastbreak three following with a fastbreak layup from Eric Lord. Shrinking the score to a 49-42 Wildcats lead. But DeMuth and Remi Lawerence responded with back-to-back threes, increasing the lead to 55-42. By the 5:30 mark, the game was still somewhat close with a 10-point margin at 58-48 after Eric Lord made two free throws.
They slowly started to defend better in the paint. While also improving their FG percentage to 10/22 in this point of the half. However, the offense would need to speed up before the end of regulation. The Wildcats have had foul issues as the Buccaneers have gone 9/9 on the free throw line. Partially why the game has been close at 50-59. Then, Hueckman made a corner three to put the game at 53-59. Hueckman was also fouled in another possession and proceeded to make both of his free throws to make the game a four-point deficit.
During a rebound attempt after a missed free throw from the Wildcats, Sam Martin of Southwestern was fouled while attempting a second-chance basket, missing one free throw. Eric Lord made a layup to put the game at 60-57 with 1:55 left on the clock. The Buccaneers quickly drove down the court and got sent to the free-throw line, making both free throws to put the game at 59-62.
The Wildcats were trying to chew the clock while the Buccaneers were fouling them. Aiden Keleher missed both free throws, allowing for Prentice to rebound and get sent to the free throw line again. Lord made both to put the game at 62-61.
With 1:15 left, Keleher was sent to the line again and missed one free throw. Then, Lord was pickpocketed by a defender, turning the ball over, missing the chance to tie or potentially take the lead with a minute left. Keleher was fouled again and made both, making the lead to a four-point gap.
After more free throws made by the Wildcats, the score was 67-61 before Evan Lord made a 3 and 1 to put the game at 67-65 with 20 seconds left. DeMuth was fouled and made both baskets to make it a four-point lead, which clinched a state title appearance for the first time in program history with a 69-65 win that almost flipped the other way.
Keleher led the charge in the game with 22 points and eight rebounds, alongside his teammate DeMuth, with 16 points.
Coming Up
The Southwestern Wildcats will now face off against the Reedsville Panthers in the title game with a chance to bring the title to Southwestern for the first time.