Boys basketball Tribe ends year with back to back losses at Decorah

Waukon’s boys basketball squad made back to back trips to Decorah during their final week of action. Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Indians completed the regular season with a 63-51 loss on the Vikings’ home court. Less than a week later, Monday, Feb. 28, Decorah handed the Tribe a season ending 59-44 loss.

Waukon’s final record is 13-9, which included a 7-5 mark in the Northeast Iowa Conference, good enough to finish fourth in league action.

at Decorah-NW...

Waukon traveled to Decorah Tuesday, Feb. 22, for its final contest of the regular season. The Indians made the journey home with a 63-51 loss on their record.

The opening minutes of the game were hotly contested. Waukon managed a 6-2 lead two minutes in the game, but the Vikings were able to jump ahead 14-12 by the time the frame was complete.

Decorah began to extend their lead in the second to go into halftime with a 28-23 advantage.

In the third, Decorah was able to double its lead, thanks largely to a solid showing beyond the three-point line. The Vikings landed a handful of triples to enjoy a 15-point lead late in the period, but the Tribe battled within ten, 48-38, before the squads entered the fourth.

The Indians mounted a comeback in the final quarter, drawing within six with about five minutes left on the clock, coach Don Kuennen noted. “That was a key point. We thought we had Decorah on the ropes, but they came down and hit a wide open three in the corner to get their lead back to nine.” The triple ended the Indians’ run, and was a big factor in the Tribe’s 63-51 loss.

“Our guys gave a good effort,” the coach added. “We played well in the first half, but Decorah played very well, too. They hit the three ball real well and that was ultimately the difference in the game.”

From long range, the Vikings landed eight of 20 attempts. Waukon managed just a trio on 14 shots. “That was probably the biggest difference in the game. They shot well all night and we just didn’t shoot well enough to beat a good team like Decorah.”

Kuennen pointed out that the Indians are still searching for a way to fill the gap left by injured guard Ben Rausch. “We just haven’t found the missing piece of the puzzle yet.”

Despite missing their starting point guard, the Indian backcourt played a great game, giving up only eight turnovers in the contest. “Obviously we missed Ben, but I was actually pleased with our guard play. Eight turnovers is a good number considering Ben had been our primary ball handler most of the year,” Kuennen stated.

The coach also admitted his squad must take some big steps before facing the Vikings again Monday in district tournament action. “We turn around and play these guys again Monday. Hopefully we’ll learn some things and figure out just how to approach that game.”

From an individual standpoint, sophomore forward Ryan Jones was credited with keeping the Tribe within striking distance in the second half. “Ryan played real well offensively in the second half. He kept us in the game.” Jones recorded 12 of his team-high 14 points in the second half. He reeled in six rebounds and grabbed three steals.

Sophomore guard Mike Rausch ended the night with 12 points and four steals.

Senior Joe Miller scored in double digits with 11. He also paced Waukon with seven rebounds, fours assists, three steals, and a pair of blocked shots.

Sophomore Jeremy Hirth had five boards and three steals in the loss.

WAUKON FG FT PF TP

Mike Rausch 5 0-0 2 12

John Seibert 0 0-0 0 0

Joe Miller 5 0-2 4 11

Dylan Schulte 0 0-0 1 0

Jeremy Hirth 3 2-2 4 8

Ryan Jones 5 4-4 5 14

Kendal Sickels 2 0-0 1 4

Russ ReVoir 0 2-2 1 2

Andrew Snitker 0 0-0 0 0

TOTAL 20 8-10 18 51

3-point goals: Rausch (2); Miller

decorah-nw FG FT PF TP

Karl Larson 3 0-0 2 6

Kevin Freund 3 0-0 0 9

Benji Wetli 4 0-0 0 11

Brett Humpal 3 5-6 2 12

Jerry Jaeger 2 0-0 1 4

Jordan Leuschen 2 1-2 1 6

Derek Svestka 3 3-5 0 9

James Ruen 3 0-0 4 6

TOTAL 23 9-13 10 63

3-point goals: Freund, Wetli (3); Humpal, Leuschen

District semifinals at Decorah-NW...

Less than a week after ending the regular season in Decorah with a loss, the Indians traveled back to the Vikings’ home court for district semifinal action. Once again, the Tribe pushed their hosts at times, but Decorah ultimately posted a 59-44 victory.

Early in the contest, Waukon looked poised to avenge their earlier loss, or at least give the Vikings a tough game. Miller poured in all eight of Waukon’s points to boost the Indians to an 8-3 lead halfway through the first quarter. Decorah answered with seven straight points of their own to reclaim the lead, 10-8. Hirth kissed a shot off the glass to knot the score, but the Vikings added two free shots and converted a steal into a score to take a 14-10 advantage into the second frame.

Hirth’s long two-pointer two and a half minutes into the period were the first points added by either side. The squads trades scores for several minutes before the Indians were able to tie the game up. Miller was fouled on a basket and then added the extra point. Soon after, sophomore post Russell ReVoir caught the Vikings on their heels to update the score to 19-19. A Rausch triple with just over a minute left put the Indians ahead, but back to back three-pointers by the Vikings sent the Indians into the locker room in a 27-22 hole.

Decorah charged into the third quarter with three unanswered buckets. By the end of the frame, Waukon’s deficit had grown to ten points, 40-30.

Feeling the pressure, Miller once again pulled the Indians along, vouching for all of the Tribe’s tallies in a 6-2 run to bring Waukon within six, 42-36. The Tribe held tight for another minute or so, but Decorah rallied to outscore Waukon 13-4 in the final five minutes and end the Indians’ season.

Kuennen pointed out the obvious sting of the loss. “You hate to see the season end, but the kids played hard. Decorah was just the better team tonight.”

The coach added that the final few minutes of the first half could’ve been a turning point for Waukon. “The last minute and a half of the second quarter were critical. We were down by two with the ball. We wanted to run the clock out and go into the half with a close game. Instead, we scored early and they hit a three right away. Then, Decorah stole the ball and hit another three. Suddenly, we found ourselves down by five points.

“The guys made a good effort in the second half and we cut the lead down to six, but we had a couple defensive lapses and that was it.”

Fouls were also sticking points for Waukon. Both Rausch and Hirth left the contest early with five offenses.

“Decorah is just a good team. They wore us down and really took it to us on the boards in the first half,” the coach added.

On the positive side, Kuennen said his team gave a good defensive effort.

Miller completed a stellar four-year varsity career with a double double, scoring a game-high 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He led the Indians with three blocked shots and a pair of steals.

Kuennen and the program will no doubt miss Miller next year. “You hate to see Joe’s career come to an end like this. He had four great years with us, but he’s still got a lot of good basketball left, if he chooses to continue on in college,” the coach said.

Senior forward Kendal Sickels also wrapped up his career at Waukon. “Kendal always gave everything he had,” Kuennen noted. “He was a good practice player and gave 100 percent in games. We’ll miss his efforts, too.”

On the flip side, Waukon has a very young team to look forward to. “Our young kids are only going to get better. At one point tonight, we had five sophomores on the court and we were still in the game. Maybe that wasn’t the best situation for tonight, but I think it bodes well for the future.”

Sophomore forward Andrew Snitker had six rebounds and Hirth grabbed five.

Rausch ended with a pair of assists and two steals.

WAUKON FG FT PF TP

Will Kramer 0 0-0 0 0

Mike Rausch 2 0-0 5 5

John Seibert 1 0-0 2 2

Joe Miller 9 4-7 3 23

Derek Snitker 0 0-0 0 0

Dylan Schulte 0 0-0 2 0

Jeremy Hirth 2 0-0 5 4

Ryan Jones 1 0-0 4 2

Kendal Sickels 0 0-0 0 0

Russ ReVoir 1 2-2 2 4

Andrew Snitker 2 0-0 4 4

TOTAL 18 6-9 27 44

3-point goals: Rausch, Miller

decorah-nw FG FT PF TP

Karl Larson 3 3-6 3 10

Kevin Freund 1 2-2 2 5

Benji Wetli 0 2-2 1 2

Brett Humpal 6 4-5 3 18

Jerry Jaeger 1 2-3 2 4

Jordan Leuschen 3 2-3 1 8

Derek Svestka 1 2-6 0 4

James Ruen 2 4-9 2 8

Sam Drenth 0 0-2 0 0

TOTAL 17 21-38 14 59

3-point goals: Humpal (2); Larson, Freund