What had been a fairly well matched boys’ basketball regional ended up being a 60-47 loss for the Wild Rose Wildcats at the hands of the Assumption Royals on Feb. 28.
Wild Rose Coach Jacob Lund had to comment on “how hard the two seniors worked all year. It’s always tough to see it end this way. I’m proud of how they (Austin Erickson and Brett Wilbert) played together and progressed through these four years plus.”
The game could have gone down the wire, and basically did no matter what deficit the hosts faced. There were even a few ties in the score late in the first half and into the second half.
Evan Tratz put up 12 big points for Wild Rose in the first half of play which included two 3-point shots, while Austin Erickson gathered 8 points behind a 3 and 3 of 3 free throws. Brett Wilbert gathered in 6 points and Jonah Williams a 3-point goal as the Wildcats worked up to a 29-29 tie by halftime.
JT Schlaefer put three 3’s for 9 Assumption points in the first half, while Ryan Shaw put up 8 points, including 2 of 2 free throws. Nick Leberg contributed 4 points while Frank Maton and Jack Wiedmeyer each contributed a 3-point goal. The Royals committed 7 fouls in the half, while the hosts committed just 3.
The visitors were first to score in the second half, but Erickson soon responded for the hosts with a 3 to give Wild Rose a 32-31 lead. Assumption went on to retake the lead and kept it, but not without a fight from Wild Rose. Whether Assumption led by 1 or even as much as 8, the hosts worked their way back from the deficit.
Erickson had put up 2 of 2 free throws to add to his total for Wild Rose. Tratz put up an earlier 3, as Wilbert fought to put up 5 points to add to his total. Williams also added 5, including a timely 3 as the clock started dropping below the two minute mark for just a 47-50 deficit. The Wildcats then went into a fouling mode, and couldn’t bounce back after the Royals kept making their free throws.
Schlaefer produced 10 points for the Royals in the second half behind two 3’s, while Maton produced 9 points behind 6 of 6 free throws and a 3-point shot. Shaw also produced 9 points, including 3 of 4 free throws. Assumption went on to take a 60-47 victory, committing 5 fouls to the hosts’ 15.
Assumption’s six scorers were led by JT Schlaefer’s 19 points featuring five 3-point goals. Ryan Shaw was close behind with 17 points, going 5-6 at the free throw line. Frank Maton put up 12 points, featuring 6 of 6 free throws and two 3-point goals. Jack Wiedmayer contributed a 3.
The Royal recorded 14 of 19 free throws, eight 3-point goals, and 13 fouls.
Wild Rose’s four scorers were led by Evan Tratz’s 15 points with three 3-point goals. Austin Erickson wasn’t far behind with 13 points based on 5 of 5 free throws and two 3-point goals, while Brett Wilbert scored 11 points. Jonah Williams put up 8 points based on two 3-point goals.
The Wildcats recorded seven 3-point goals, 6 of 8 free throws, and 18 fouls.
