Colby stays alive with win over Crandon

By Nathaniel Underwood

After falling to McDonnel Catholic Central in their Cloverbelt crossover game, the eighth-seeded Colby Hornets boys basketball team bounced back by delivering a commanding win over the Crandon Cardinals in their first round game in the WIAA Division 4 playoffs on Tuesday night.

Crandon, 91-60

Colby connected on 13 three-point shots and four Hornets scored in double digits as they had one of their best offensive performances of the season in their first round playoff game against the ninth-seeded Crandon squad on Tuesday night. Though the Cardinals were able to keep the game close for much of the first half, a barrage of threes from the home team was able to keep them at bay until a second half surge pushed the Hornets to a 91-60 victory.

In a contested first period, Colby’s three-point shooting stood out as a difference maker. While Crandon was able to make five shots from beyond the arc over the first 18 minutes, the Hornets knocked down nine such shots over the same time frame. Over half of the home team’s first half points came from long range.

Landon Steinman gave his team an early boost off the bench by hitting a quartet of three-point shots in the first half that were instrumental in giving the Hornets a solid lead. Teammates Adrian Lopez and Joseph Streveler added two threes each and Jaxon Polivka put up another for good measure as the Hornets lit up the scoreboard with their long range barrage.

However, the Cardinals were able to keep pace with some efficient offense themselves. Four Crandon players scored seven or more points in the half and while Colby had managed to stretch their lead out to nine points by halftime, there was a sense that the Cardinals could still work themselves back into the contest.

The opening possessions of the second half seemed to further such sentiments as Crandon was able to make it a two possession game. Colby’s defense stepped up as the half progressed, however, as aggressive zone schemes and occasional pressure in the backcourt suddenly slowed the Cardinals’ attack.

Meanwhile, the Hornets continued to roll on the opposite end of the court. While less reliant on the three-point shot in the second period, the Hornets were perhaps even more efficient in their work, hitting 21 field goals over the course of the half. After foul trouble limited his time on the court in the first half, Polivka put up 14 points in the second and Streveler added 13 more as the Hornets went on two big runs to build a 30-point advantage of the Cardinals.

Though Colby only shot two free throws in each half, their shot selection and ability to finish at the rim in the second period more than made up for the lack of trips to the charity stripe.

Streveler finished with 23 points in the first round playoff victory. Polivka and Steinman both finished with 17 points each and Lopez ended the game with 13. Miguel Morillon put up seven points while being a key piece at the top of the Hornets defense, Tucker Hayes had six second half points and Reed Fleischmann and Zander Engel both contribute four points in the win.

McDonnel, 67-55

The Hornets also faced off against the McDonnel Catholic Central Macks in a rematch of last year’s Cloverbelt- East/West crossover game. In a battle between the two fourth place teams, the Macks once again came out on top, using a strong run in opening minutes of the second period to take control over the game and eventually deal Colby a 67-55 defeat.

While the two teams shot very similarly, it was the Macks’ ability to get to the free throw line and their slightly better shooting from beyond the three-point line that turned the game in their favor. McDonnel made 12 of their 21 free throw attempts and connected on seven three-point shots over the course of the contest while the Hornets only attempted three free throws and were only 2-of-23 from three-point range.

A scoring drought in the second half proved to be too much for Colby to overcome. A basket from Tucker Hayes had the Hornets up 38-34 with 16 minutes left, but another five minutes were drained off the game clock before Miguel Morillon finally got his team back on the board by turning a steal into a layup. In the meantime, McDonnel had scored 11 straight points and held a 45-40 lead.

The Hornets kept things close over and another transition layup, this time courtesy of Jaxon Polivka, made it a one possession game at 54-51 with just over five minutes left in the contest. That would be all the closer Colby would be able to get, however, as the visiting Macks outscored the home team 13-4 across the last stretch of the game and were able to come away with the victory.

Earlier in the game, the Hornets had made a similar run to try to wrest control from McDonnel. After falling behind 24-17, Colby went on a 15-2 run to regain control of the contest. Polivka tied the game at 26-26 by putting back an offensive rebound and then Joseph Streveler hit the next three baskets for the Hornets to give them a sixpoint lead. Colby still held a 34-29 lead at halftime, but could not keep up the offensive production in the second period, only scoring 21 points.

Streveler’s offense helped keep the Hornets in the game in the first half, putting up 1 of his 23 points in the opening period. Polivka added 12 points, brought down eight rebounds and recorded 3 assists over the course of the game.

Adrian Lopez finished with eight points and Hayes, Morillon and Reed Fleischmann all contributed four points. Morillon also had five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Following their win over Crandon, the Hornets will play number one seeded Marathon Red Raiders on Friday, March 1 in a second round matchup. The two teams faced off once already in Marathon this season and the Red Raiders were able to come out on top in that contest, using a dominant second half performance to down Colby 81-46. Tipoff for the rematch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

TOUGH SHOT - Landon Steinman works around the block for two of his 14 first half points in Colby’s first round playoff win over Crandon.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

TURNAROUND BASKET - Joseph Streveler gets the fadeaway to drop in the second period against the Cardinals. The senior led the Hornets with 23 points in the victory.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD