Norse take control of DC with win over Mustangs
The Whitehall boys basketball picked up a big win that put them in control of the Dairyland Conference late last week as they topped Melrose-Mindoro in a battle between two teams that had unblemished conference records.
If Whitehall never had to play on a Monday, their overall record would look much better. The Norse fell to Fall Creek, 72-55, last week Monday, it was the third nonconference Monday loss for Whitehall. Monday losses make up half of Whitehall’s total this season, they also have one loss on a Saturday and another on a Wednesday.
But all six of Whitehall’s losses have come in nonconference play, a run that continued in a big game last Thursday when the Norse hosted the Mustangs, which came into the game with a 9-0 DC mark. The game was close in the first half, but the Norse went on a big run to take control in the second as they won by 22 points.
Whitehall entered this week with a 14-6 overall mark and they’re 11-0 in DC play. They hosted Blair-Taylor on Tuesday and will welcome Augusta next Friday. Should the Norse win both of those games, sole possession of the DC-Large Championship will be at stake this coming Monday when they play at Mel-Min before they close out the regular season next Thursday at Eleva-Strum.
F. Creek 72 Whitehall 55
The Norse had a tough time stopping Fall Creek in the post in the second half.
Whitehall trailed by just two points at halftime, but post player Luke Beighley picked up three fouls. The Crickets were aggressive in getting the ball inside to Bo Vollrath — listed at six-foot-six — in the paint as the junior scored 15 points in the second half. The team also fed Isaac Steinke — listed at six-foot-five — down low as he scored nine points.
Meanwhile, Whitehall’s offense went cold in the second half. After knocking down five three pointers in the first half, they made just one in the second as Fall Creek took control of the game.
Vollrath finished with a game-high 28 points while Steinke added 19 and Leo Hagberg finished with 13.
Devon McCune led Whitehall with 17 while Brayden Lisowski scored 13; Preston Schroeder, 10; Beighley, nine, Seth Lambeck, four and Grant Olson, two.
Whitehall 64 Mel-Min 42
For a half, the game lived up to the hype one would expect when two teams who are undefeated in conference play square off late in the season. Then Whitehall showed why it is the defending champion and entered the season as favorite to repeat.
Whitehall led 32-25 at halftime and the Mustangs drew two points closer early in the second half. Then McCune scored two straight baskets to push the lead to nine.
The Mustangs cut the lead to eight before Beighley made a couple of big plays. First he had a three-point play in which he made a basket while being fouled; the ensuing free throw put Whitehall ahead by 11. On the next Mel-Min possession, Beighley came up with a loose ball and pushed the ball down the court, finishing with a one-handed dunk that made the score 43-30.
After a couple of free throws by McCune, Lisowski drained a three to make it a 10-0 run for the Norse. Another basket by McCune put the Norse ahead by 20 and they kept going as Lisowski knocked down a jumper before the Mustangs stopped the streak with a layup.
From there, Whitehall’s defense suffocated the Norse. Whitehall maintained a big advantage until the final buzzer.
Beighley led a balanced Whitehall offense with 15 points, one more than McCune. Schroeder chipped in with 13, while Lisowski added 11; Colton Pank, six and Lambeck, three.
