We all know it, when Thorp and Owen-Withee play in any sport, you can throw the records out as the intensity increases and the players play their hearts out. Tuesday night was no different as Thorp led at halftime and the Blackhawks then made a big run at the start of the second half and earned the 44-41 victory.
In a game that was very physical, points were difficult to come by for both teams as right from the start people knew that it was going to be low scoring. Thorp came out and grabbed a quick 8-0 lead knocking in a pair from distance. The Blackhawks finally got on the board by going into the post as Winston Poehler fed Jack Wendler on the block for two. The Cardinals kept scoring as the Hawks were still trying to get the lid off the hoop. An offensive putback by Poehler put the score at 16-5, with the Hawks trailing. Senior Sam Wells would later find Poehler who deposited a three, cutting into the Cardinal lead. Two hoops from Wendler and a steal by Colton Paczkowski, who found Clay Mueller ahead for a lay-up cut the lead to 22-15. The Hawks defense slowly tightened up as Preston Fritz knocked in a hoop making it 24-17 at the half.
The Blackhawks came out at the half determined to make a stand and they did, going on a 15-0 run during the first seven and a half minutes of the second half. Hoops by Paczkowski and Mueller off a steal and drive started it. Poehler knocked down a pair of threes giving the Blackhawks their first lead, 27-24. A putback by Wendler and a three by Paczkowski kept the momentum going for the Blackhawks. The Cardinals however, would not go away quietly as they steadied themselves and made a run back, tying it at 35-35. A key 15-footer off the baseline by Wendler gave the Hawks the lead back, 37-35, as Poehler's steal and hoop gave them a four-point lead with three minutes remaining. Thorp got within one, but a drive by Preston Fritz for a bucket and foul and free throw gave the Blackhawks a four-point lead. Thorp had a chance at the end, but a big steal by the Hawks sealed the victory, 44-41.
The Blackhawks had 15 steals for the game and only 10 turnovers.
Box Score: Poehler 12 pts, 8 rebs, 2 asts, 3 stls; Wendler 10 pts, 5 rebs, 3 stls; Fritz 8 pts, 2 rebs, 2 stls; T. Mueller 5 pts, 7 rebs, 2 asts; Paczkowski 5 pts, 4 rebs, 2 asts, 4 stls; C. Mueller 4 pts, 3 rebs, 2 stls; Wells 1 reb, 1 ast.
Coach's Comments
Our guys kept playing no matter if things were rocky or smooth. It was not our best looking first half of the year, but our defense only gave up 24 points as we were lucky to only be down by seven at the half. The guys really laid it out there at the beginning of the second half, especially on defense, as those stops and steals led to our offense which we paid off. The guys were confident down the stretch also, moving the ball.