ELEVA-STRUM ENDS NEW LISBON'S RUN
David Paradise/Star-Times
New Lisbon's Mitchell Vinz led the Rockets with nine points in the loss to Eleva-Strum.
By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
The New Lisbon Rockets (15-8) boys basketball team traveled to Osseo on Friday for WIAA Division IV sectional semifinal action against a top ranked Eleva-Strum Cardinals team (25-0) that had been beating tournament opponents by an average of 40 points per game.
Playing in front of a crowd of over 1,500, the Rockets couldn't convert on a couple of opportunities early, but following a Cardinals free throw, senior Jacob Woggon knocked down a big three-pointer from the baseline to give the Rockets an early 3-1 lead.
Unfortunately for New Lisbon, it was their only basket of the first quarter, as the Cardinals' pressure defense forced a number of Rockets turnovers and turned them into some quick baskets during a 15-1 run.
New Lisbon got a free throw from junior Mitchell Vinz toward the end of the quarter, but Eleva-Strum led by 12, 16-4, after one.
The second quarter began much like the first ended, with the Cardinals putting up five quick points on the Rockets to increase their lead to 21-4.
Senior Bryant Southworth knocked down a three to end the Cardinals run, but Eleva-Strum came right back at the Rockets with a 7-0 spurt that gave them a 28-7 lead.
Trailing by 21 early in the second, New Lisbon didn't give up and used a 13-2 run to cut into the Cardinals' lead.
Woggon started the run with a basket, followed by two points from Brandon Brockman and a Kyle Brummond three.
Following the Cardinals' only score during the run, Vinz put in two, and Brockman knocked down another shot, before a pair of free throws from Vinz cut the Cardinals' lead down to 30-20.
Eleva-Strum ended the second with a 7-2 run to take a 37-22 halftime lead.
The Rockets came out of the break with a 7-3 run, capped off by another Brummond three, that narrowed the lead to 11.
The Rockets would get no closer, as the Cardinals used a 18-3 run to end the third and put them up 58-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
Eleva-Strum continued to pull away in the fourth, outscoring the Rockets 15-7, to win 73-38, en route to their third straight state tournament appearance.
"I think we came out nervous, but the kids played hard and never gave up," New Lisbon head coach Brad Bever said. "We had a couple good runs, to cut down their lead, but their defensive pressure takes a toll, and wore us down. Their a very good team. I am really proud of the guys, especially the seniors."
New Lisbon was led by Vinz with nine points. Brockman finished with seven, Brummond had six, Woggon and Southworth finished with five points apiece for the Rockets.
New Lisbon will lose Brummond, Brockman, Woggon, Titus and Southworth from this season's team that finished the season with a 15-8, record including a 8-6 Scenic Bluffs Conference (SBC) record, that tied them with Wonewoc-Center for third place in the SBC.