NEW LISBON ADVANCES TO REGIONAL FINALS
By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
New Lisbon hosted the Lincoln (Alma-Center) Hornets (2-18) on Tuesday night in the opening round of the WIAA state tournament.
The Rockets opened up a 22-point lead on the visiting Hornets in the first quarter, outscoring Lincoln, 26-4.
Jacob Woggon led the Rockets attack with eight points in the first as six different New Lisbon players scored during the quarter, Lincoln cut the Rockets lead to 18 at halftime, by outscoring New Lisbon 16-12 in the second quarter.
Brandon Brockman knocked down back-to-back three pointers in a back-and-forth third quarter, as the Rockets increased their lead to 19.
The Hornets rally attempt in the fourth quarter came up short, despite knocking down four three-pointers.
Mitchell Vinz and Kyle Brummond help the Rockets hang on for the 68-53 victory, combining for 13 of the Rockets' 15 points in the fourth, scoring seven and six points, respectively.
"We shot 74 percent from the field in the first half to get the big lead," New Lisbon coach Brad Bever said. "RJ (Titus) and Jacob (Woggon) did a nice job with the high-low, and Mitchell (Vinz) did a great job distributing, he had eight assists. Tonight was the best teamwork we have had in the last six or seven games."
RJ Titus led the Rockets with 15 points. Woggon added 14 for New Lisbon. Brummond finished with 11.
Vinz and Bryant Southworth chipped in seven points apiece, and Brockman and Chad Wyss each finished with six points.
New Lisbon continued tournament action on Thursday, when they hosted the Coulee Region Christian Eagles (10-11) in WIAA regional semifinal action.
Southworth got the Rockets on the board first with a long two, Vinz followed the shot with a three-point play, and Titus added back-to-back baskets to give New Lisbon a 9-0 lead over the Eagles, early in the first quarter.
Coulee answered with a 10-3 run, with two of their 10 three-pointers on the night, to narrow the Rockets' lead to two.
Titus ended the run with a basket inside, and Brockman and Wyss added baskets to push the Rockets' lead to eight, 18-10.
Another Eagles three-pointer put Coulee down five after the first quarter. Titus put the Rockets up 20-13 with 5:42 left in the second, before a 8-0 Coulee run over the next four minutes gave the visiting Eagles a 21-20 lead.
A Brockman basket put the Rockets back on top, 22-21, at halftime. Coulee got the lead back with a three-pointer to start the third quarter.
A pair of Woggon baskets sandwiched another Eagles three, before a 8-3 Rocket run put New Lisbon up 34-30. Coulee scored the next five to regain the lead, but the Rockets answered with a 5-0 run to end the quarter.
Trailing 39-35 at the start of the fourth, Coulee's Joel House knocked down a jump shot, to bring the Eagles to within two.
Brummond and Vinz got back-to-back lay-ups off Eagles turnovers, to give New Lisbon a 43-37 lead.
A Coulee basket narrowed the Rockets lead to four, with 3:55 remaining.
The Rockets knocked down nine of 12 free throws in the final 1:14 to seal the 56-46 victory.
"Good victory for us, we battled hard all game," Bever said. "We hit big free throws down the stretch. Good to see a big crowd at the game, we need to be ready to play on Saturday against Cochrane-Fountain City or Loyal."
New Lisbon was led by Titus with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Wyss added 10, and Woggon added nine points and seven rebounds.
Brummond and Vinz added eight and six points, respectively.
New Lisbon will continue tournament action Today, when they travel to Neillsville High School to take on the Loyal Greyhounds (12-10), who beat Cochrane-Fountain City 62-59 in overtime on Thursday.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For ticket information contact the New Lisbon High School.