Menu
Clutch free-throws, solid defense send Meadow Heights to WIT title game
Meadow Heights coach Corey Brownsberger knew if his team allowed the Leopold duo of Caleb Schaab and Mason Deck to have the output the two scorers had against Delta in the first round, the Panthers would be playing for third place today.
Brownsberger’s defense didn’t allow that to happen on Thursday as the Panthers proved to meet the challenge, holding the Wildcat duo to a combined 23 points as Meadow Heights beat Leopold 52-43 to advance to the Woodland Invitational Tournament’s championship game against host Woodland today.
Will Green drew the matchup to guard the high-scoring Schaab and did an outstanding job. The senior only allowed Schaab to score one 2-point field goal and 10 points in the entire contest.
Seniors Koby Cook and Kade Lindgren split time guarding Deck as the duo held the talented Leopold senior to 13. Deck was held to just three points in the final period and Schaab was allowed one single bucket in the fourth quarter.
“We knew they (Schaab and Deck) made their offense go so we wanted them to see five sets of eyes every time they touched the ball,” Brownsberger said. “We practiced to gear up to stop those two because they are two fantastic scorers. I’m very pleased with how my kids played defensively tonight.”
Meadow Heights also got some clutch free throws in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice as Cook drilled 3-of-4 free-throws and Green made 4-of-5 shots from the charity stripe.
Green led all scorers for the Panthers with 17 points while Chase Conrad added 14, Cook netted 12 and Tristen Mayfield furnished 10.
The Panthers will face the Woodland Cardinals in the championship game tonight while Leopold will draw Oak Ridge in the third-place game.
“Coach Trimmer has a very balanced scoring group that are big, physical, aggressive and very well coached,” Brownsberger said. “We will have to play well and bring our best effort if we hope to bring home the title.”
The championship game will tip off at 8 p.m. today at Woodland High School.
The third-place game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Woodland 96, Oak Ridge 62
Woodland’s offense was on full display Thursday in the night’s first semifinal matchup.
The Cardinals handled Oak Ridge 96-62 at home to advance to the finals of the Woodland Invitational Tournament.
Woodland led from the opening tip, quickly grabbing a 12-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailing in the game .
The Cardinals gained a 44-23 advantage going into the locker rooms at halftime and extended that lead in the third period, garnering a 69-46 upper hand.
Woodland’s Lane Vangennip led all scorers with a game-high 31 points while Trenton Braswell added 14.
For the Blue Jays, Camren Volz led the offense with 25 points, 12 of which coming from beyond the arc. Ty Wilson pitched in 12 points and Jeremiah Hamilton added nine.
Woodland (2-1) will play Meadow Heights at 8 p.m. today in the tournament’s championship game.
Oak Ridge (1-1) will play Leopold at 6:30 p.m. today in the third-place game.