Rough second half costs Rebels
Published 12:24 am Saturday, February 5, 2011
Southland guard Decker Bendsten goes up for a wrap-around pass on St. Charles' Will Swiggum during the Rebels' 69-65 loss in Adams Friday. -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
ADAMS — The Southland boys basketball team looked like it was headed for a lop-sided win at halftime, but everything changed in the last 18 minutes against Saint Charles Friday night.
The Saints (10-9 overall, 7-8 Three Rivers) opened the second half on a 19-2 run and they never trailed again as they won 69-65.
Southland (11-9 overall, 7-7 Three Rivers) had led 34-19 when St. Charles senior Joseph Montgomery hit one of his six threes right before end of the first half to close the gap to 12.
Southland senior Sam Noterman dribbles against the St. Charles press in Adams Friday -- Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“The second half we just got out-played, no ifs ands or buts about it,” Southland head coach Jon Thalberg said. “But we’ve had school closings, no practice all week and a classmate of these guys passed away this week. It’s a lot to take in.”
The Rebels pulled to within 63-60 with 1:20 left in the game after Sam Klaehn hit a three and converted a three-point play and Decker Bendsten hit a three and scored on a put-back.
Southland had the ball down three but it committed one of its 17 turnovers on the night, but Bendsten did score on a put-back to make it 64-62 with 59 seconds left. Will Swiggum, who had missed his first four free throws, hit two free throws for Saint Charles and Mike Goergen missed back-to-back free throws to secure the game for the Saints.
Southland started to foul with five minutes left as St. Charles began to run clock.
“They’re a patient team on offense so we knew we had to start fouling,” Thalberg said.
Thalberg said his team knew that Montgomery, who scored 20 points, was an outside threat but they couldn’t get out on him.
“He’s always been a great three point shooter so we knew about him, but when you’re a step slow on defense, bad things happen,” he said.
St. Charles 22 47 — 69
Southland 34 31 — 65
Southland scoring: Alan May, 18; Mike Goergen, 17; Decker Bendtsen, 11; Nick Schmitz, 8; Sam Klaehn, 6; Marcus Johnson, 3; Sam Noterman, 2; free throws: 56 percent (5-for-9); rebounds: 40 (May, 18); turnovers: 17
St. Charles scoring: Joseph Montgomery, 20; Brooke Grebin, 15; Joey Ellinghuysen, 15; Will Swiggum, 8; Chris Bambenek, 7; Aaron Lestikow, 4; free throws: 51 percent (17-for-33); turnovers: 13
