Title match goes down to the wire for gassed players

Crowned as this year’s Cadott Alumni Tournament champions, were the classes of 2017-18, who won over the 2007-10 classes, March 30, with a score of 45-41. Players of the winning team, left to right, in front, are Michael Emery, Cejay Poehls and Joey Hinzman. In back, are Bennett Bowe, Joey Starck, Nicky Nesvacil and Payton Freagon. (To the left) Coming up just short for the alumni championship, were the classes of 2007-10, with players, left to right, Kevin Christorf, Alex Rothbauer, Dusty Burish, Jordan Poehls, Cory Matott and Gage Burish. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Anticipation was high March 30, for the championship game of the Cadott Alumni, as it promised to be an exciting match between the Black team (Classes of 2007-10) and the White team (Classes of 2017-18). After they each went up against multiple opponents to earn the title shot, the teams were already feeling fatigue, but started the game with exuberance.

White struck first, with a three-pointer that Black tried to answer on their end, but it was no good and White’s Nicky Nesvacil made them pay with a jumper off the backboard, giving his team a 5-0 lead just seconds into the game. On the other end, Black’s Alex Rothbauer drove down the lane, but his shot wouldn’t go down.

Black remained scoreless after four minutes in the game, but Kevin Christorf changed that, making a basket in the paint. With the ball back to White, Nesvacil got the ball to Payton Freagon, who knocked down a three.

Determined not to be left behind, Black quickly got a basket on their own end. Then, after a timeout, Christorf went baseline for a bucket to cut White’s lead to five, but it wouldn’t last long, as White went up by eight on a threepointer from Michael Emery.

Rothbauer took one to the basket for Black, but then several minutes went by before they’d score again. Freagon got fouled and went to the charity stripe, making both free throws, to put White up, 16-8.

Black struck back, with a two-pointer from Rothbauer, but several miscommunications led to turnovers for Black in the coming plays. That gave White a chance to increase their lead, which Cejay Poehls did with a three-pointer. Trying to get back on track, Dusty Burish cut to the basket for Black, but the shot didn’t go in; Rothbauer was right behind to put in the follow-up.

On the other end, Joey Hinzman attempted a twopoint shot that didn’t go down, with the ball going back to Black. Rothbauer put one in under the basket on his end of the court, which whittled White’s lead down to seven, with two minutes left in the half.

Black’s Jordan Poehls then knocked down a shot to further cut White’s lead to five. Freagon tried a three on his end, but the rebound was nabbed by Black, who waited for one last shot before the break. Rothbauer made his move with a turnaround floater and the score stood 21-18, at halftime, in favor of White.

Opening the second half, Black tied up the game with a long three by J. Poehls. White quickly turned the ball over on their own end and Burish made them pay with a basket to give Black their first lead of the game.

On a missed shot by Black, White got the board and got the ball to Freagon, who rattled in a three, to put White up by two. Nesvacil hit a shot off the backboard for a two and White was back in the game.

Joey Starck tried a jumper under the basket, but it wouldn’t fall and Black grabbed the board, but each team had entered a scoring drought for the next couple minutes. The drought ended when Emery set a screen, allowing a teammate to get him the ball, draining a three-pointer.

Rothbauer answered on the other end with a two, however, Freagon wiped that out by connecting on a threepoint shot on White’s end. Desperate to catch up, Black made a basket, then saw Gage Burish hit a three, that rimmed in-and-out before dropping in.

That left White with a slim, two-point lead, with 9:40 left to play. Out of a timeout, Starck knocked in a turnaround two, but Black refused to be ignored and D. Burish nailed a three-pointer, to get White’s lead down to one. Starck answered with a drive to the basket on his end and White went back up by three.

Starck again came up with a basket, on a put-back from an attempted three-pointer by Emery. Black wasn’t going down without a fight and Rothbauer made a basket, with just four minutes left in the game. It was clear fatigue was taking a toll on both teams, but Black managed to tie up the game, with two minutes on the clock.

J. Poehls hit a contested two under the basket, to take the lead, while White couldn’t get their shots to fall. Black tried to capitalize on that and looked to increase their lead, but a missed shot allowed White to get the ball to C. Poehls, who rattled in a three-pointer, for a one-point lead.

Time continued to tick off and as Black tried to get open, they rushed a shot and the ball went to White, with 30.9 seconds left in the match. After a quick timeout, Black started fouling to stop the clock.

Nesvacil shot a pair of free throws, giving White a threepoint lead. On the other end, Freagon fouled Rothbauer with 16.2 left on the clock. Rothbauer made one of two and Freagon redeemed himself by getting the rebound.

On his end of the court, Freagon was fouled and connected on one of two free throws. Black had a chance, with Christorf trying a long three that missed and White came up with the ball, with just .08 seconds remaining.

Freagon again went to the line and with a free throw, put away the game, 45-41, giving White the championship over Black.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="494"] Coming up just short for the alumni championship, were the classes of 2007-10, with players, left to right, Kevin Christorf, Alex Rothbauer, Dusty Burish, Jordan Poehls, Cory Matott and Gage Burish. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]