The Whitewater Boys’ Basketball Team successfully began their regional tournament, as they traveled to Saint Francis and upset the Mariners, 60-56, on Tuesday, March 1st. The game was excitingly close throughout, with the outcome only decided in the last minute and a half. 

In the first half, the two teams went toe-to-toe, with neither team gaining an advantage until Saint Francis inched ahead 29-24 with two and a half minutes left. The Whippets quickly erased that lead with a 10-3 run to finish the half and go ahead 34-32. 

It was more of the same in the second half, as the teams continued to go back and forth, until Whitewater started to pull away, taking a 49-43 lead with six minutes left. That didn’t last, however, as Saint Francis scrambled back to take a 53-51 lead. The Whippets began their final run as Sam Brown’s 3-pointer put them ahead 54-53 with a minute and a half left. Free throws by Ramon Wence(2), Wyatt Nickels(3), and Sam Brown(1) closed out the scoring as Whitewater’s defense stifled Saint Francis, holding them to 3 points, with the last two coming with five seconds left.

The Whippets played their most consistent offense of the season, shooting 50% from the field and handing out 19 assists, and their defense frustrated Saint Francis with deflections and steals (13) throughout the game. They were led by Jon Aron, who went 12 for 17 (70%) from the field for 25 points and played a harassing top of the 1-3-1 zone. Wyatt Nickels had 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals to solidify the middle of the zone. Arno Crowley had 9 points and Ramon Wence had 7 points, and they each had three steals as they flew around on the wings on defense. And Sam Brown had 6 points and 4 rebounds, handling the point on offense while patrolling the baseline on defense. 

Whitewater will next travel to Racine to take on Racine Saint Catherine’s on Friday, March 4th, at 7 p.m.

Article Submitted by Dwayne Lange
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka