Rebels start fast and knock off Lyle-Pacelli
Published 10:00 pm Thursday, March 2, 2017
- Southland’s Lee Wilson races with the ball down the court during the first half in a Section 1A West Division playoff game Thursday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ADAMS — The No. 2 seeded Southland boys basketball team and No. 7 Lyle-Pacelli had a close game in Adams earlier this season, but that wasn’t the case when the Rebels started fast and knocked off LP 82-64 in a Section 1A West quarterfinal game Thursday.
Thomas Bottema finished with 30 points for the Rebels (14-8 overall) as he knocked down six of his seven three-pointers in the first half. The Rebels opened the game on a 10-2 run and they led by as much as 68-36 in the second half.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Kamis Kuku with the ball during the second half against Southland in a Section 1A West Division playoff game Thursday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We didn’t really perform our best the last time we played them,” Bottema said. “We really wanted to show them that we were the better team and we wanted to work harder than them.”
LP (10-16 overall) was as close as 22-15 when Jed Nelson hit a jump shot in the first half, but the Rebels responded with a 7-0 run that saw Jared Landherr, who had 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists, get free for a couple of breakaways.
“It was a lot of fun,” Landherr said. “It’s a big rivalry and the crowd was really into it. We really got after it right away.”
LP didn’t go away quietly after trailing big in the second half as it was able to get within 20. Jed Nelson led the Athletics with 11 points.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Zach Bollingberg takes to the air in front of Southland’s Ty Russell during the second half Friday night in a Section 1A West Division playoff match-up in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We’ve got a young, inexperienced team and it showed tonight, but our guys played hard,” LP head coach Scott Koenigs said. “We’re teaching these kids that they have to play hard for the whole game. I’m proud of our seniors and I”m proud of our guys. Hats off to Southland, they played better than us tonight.”
The Rebels will now take on No. 3 Faribault Bethlehem Academy in Mayo Civic Center 7:30 p.m. March 7. Bottema is excited for the opportunity to play in Civic Center.
“We experienced playing there last year, but we want to experience winning there,” Bottema said.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Brady Lester drives on Southland’s Chris Webber during the second half in a Section 1A West Division playoff game Thursday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
LP 31 33 — 64
Southland 49 33 — 82
Southland scoring: Thomas Bottema, 30; Chris Webber, 16; Jared Landherr, 14; Garret Mullenbach, 7; Carl Mueller, 6; Lee Wilson, 6; Colton Mandt, 3; free throws: 53 percent (12-for-23); rebounds: 26 (Landherr, 6; Webber 6); turnovers: 16
LP scoring: Jed Nelson, 11; Kamis Kuku, 9; Brady Lester, 9; Joseph Maas, 7; Trinity Anderson, 5; Nathan Drees, 5; Zach Bollinberg, 5; Leo Einck, 3; Bailey Rosas, 3; Trace Fishbaugher, 3; Bryce Strouf, 2; Cole Ethen, 2; free throws: 56 percent (15-for-27); rebounds: 23 (Kuku, 6); turnovers: 20
Southland’s Jared Landherr gets a layup in front of Brady Lester during the first half in a Section 1A West Division playoff game Thursday night in Adams. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
