Norse keep rolling with two more wins

While both Augusta and Blair-Taylor stuck with Whitehall, the Norse highlighted their ability to put the ball in the basket in a pair of wins.

The game against Augusta was close for the most part, but Whitehall came up with big three-pointers in crucial moments for a 67-57 win last Monday. On Thursday, the team trailed B-T early in the second half before going on a big run and eventually pulling away for an 89-71 win.

The victories extended Whitehall’s winning streak to eight as the team improved to 14-4 overall and 12-2 in Dairyland Conference play, tied with Osseo-Fairchild atop the Large Division. 

The Norse played a huge DC game at O-F on Tuesday of this week and will host Alma Center Lincoln on Thursday before welcoming Melrose-Mindoro on Friday. Next Tuesday, Whitehall plays at Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran with the last home game of the regular season set for next Friday against Cochrane-Fountain City.  

Whitehall 67 Augusta 57

The Norse made big shots in big moments to fight off the Beavers.

Whitehall trailed early, but Connor Stevens and Will Youngbauer both made two three-pointers apiece during a stretch in which the Norse went from losing by two to winning by six at 28-22. 

Augusta battled back all game and got within two before Youngbauer made a couple of free throws and Bo Killian hit a three. Killian made another jumper then knocked down a three-pointer just before the first half buzzer to give Whitehall a 38-30 lead at halftime.

The Beavers kept chewing away and pulled within two with about 10 minutes left in the game. Deacon Steig gave Whitehall some breathing room with a three-pointer before the Norse essentially sealed the win with a 7-0 run, including another three by Killian. 

Youngbauer led Whitehall with 21 points, while Killian added 15 and Stevens finished with a season-high 12. 

While Whitehall shot 45% from the field and made eight-of-17 three-pointers, the team struggled at the free-throw line, making 21 of 40 attempts. 

Whitehall (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Youngbauer 3/10-13/16-4-2-21 Evans 0/1-1/8-7-3-1 Steig 4/7-0/1-2-2-9 Killian 5/11-2/4-4-0-15 Herman 0/1-0/0-2-5-0 Pronschinske 0/1-0/0-0-0-0 Christianson 0/0-0/0-2-0-0 Stevens 5/8-0/2-2-1-12 Przybylla 2/3-5/9-3-4-9

Whitehall 89 B-T 71

After a hot-shooting first half by the Wildcats, the Norse trailed early in the second half before going on a run to take control.

B-T made six three-pointers in the first half, including three by Kyle Jahr to take a 35-33 lead into halftime. The Wildcats were still ahead, 38-37, before Whitehall went on a tear.

The Norse took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Killian then Youngbauer scored on a drive to the basket on the team’s next possession. A three by B-T’s Collin Johnson cut the Whitehall lead to one, but Youngbauer scored five straight with a basket on a drive and a three-pointer. 

After a pair of B-T free throws, Whitehall scored the next six points on baskets by Killian, Steig and Cayden Platteter to take a 10-point lead.

The lead hovered around 10 for a bit before Platteter and Killian connected on consecutive three-pointers to put Whitehall ahead 70-55. The Norse controlled the rest of the game to win by 18. 

Killian scored 24 to lead Whitehall, but it was a balanced attack with four players in double-figures. Platteter added 17 points, Youngbauer finished with 16 and Steig added 13. Youngbauer and Killian both registered double-doubles as Killian added 10 rebounds and Youngbauer finished with 13 assists. 

CJ Dummer scored 20 for B-T, which also had four players finish in double-figures. Johnson finished with 17, Brady Thompson added 16 and Jahr scored 14. 

Whitehall (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Youngbauer 6/14-2/3-5-0-16 Evans 4/6-0/0-3-1-8 Steig 4/12-2/2-5-0-13 Killian 8/13-3/4-10-0-24 Herman 1/7-1/4-3-5-3 Pronschinske 0/1-0/0-0-0-0 Ausderau 1/1-0/0-0-0-2 Semb 0/0-0/0-3-0-0 Christianson 0/0-0/0-1-0-0 Stevens 0/3-0/0-0-0-0 Johnson 0/2-0/0-0-0-0 Przybylla 2/3-2/2-9-2-6 Platteter 7/8-0/1-0-1-16