Hot-shooting Warhawks down Pioneers
February 24, 2005
Hot-shooting UW-Whitewater beat UW-Platteville 89-76 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post-season tournament semifinals Thursday in Williams Fieldhouse.
The fourth-seeded Warhawks advance to Saturday's game at second-seed UW-Stevens Point, who beat UW-Oshkosh 65-59 in the other semifinal.
UW-Whitewater hit 10 of its first 14 shots for a 27-18 advantage, and then the Warhawks and Pioneers exchanged big play after big play. In as explosive of first half that has been played in the fieldhouse for some time, the Warhawks took a 44-40 lead. Both teams shot better than 50 percent in the half.
A three-point basket by Craig Anderson and a dunk by Angelo Griffin gave the Warhawks a 57-48 advantage eight minutes into the second period. The Pioneers stormed back within 62-60 when Brad Reitzner drilled a pair of consecutive three-point baskets, sending the 1,336 fans into a frenzy. Just like they had all night, the Warhawks answered. Melvin Williams scored a layup and free throw after being fouled, and then drilled a three-point 24 seconds later for a crowd-quieting 68-60 lead.
The Pioneers came back with a three-point basket by Brandon Temperly, cutting the lead to 68-63, only to be answered by a Rob Perry layup and three free throws by Williams. UWP never came closer than seven the rest of the game, and the final 13-point margin was the largest lead.
Eleven players scored in double figures. Jeremy Manchester led the Warhawks (19-8) with 20 points and six assists, while Mike Toellner scored 16 points, and Williams finished with 14. The Warhawks shot 51.8 percent on the night, including 8-16 from three-point territory.
Sean Krause led the Pioneers with 16 points, making 4-6 three-point shots, while Temperly and LeVon Crawford added 14 apiece. Reitzner scored 12, and Mark Gossens had 10 for the Pioneers.
Unless the Pioneers receive a long-shot NCAA III tournament bid, 16th-ranked UW-Platteville finished 19-7. The Pioneers, picked for fourth in the WIAC preseason poll, captured its 19th conference title. Second-year Coach Paul Combs guided his team to a 13-3 league record.
The Pioneers lose two all-conference seniors, who drew standing ovations when they exited the game in the final minute. Temperly was an honorable mention all-WIAC selection last season and made a strong bid for a first-team honor this year by averaging 12.2 points per game. He finished with 918 career points. Reitzner, a preseason all-American, led the Pioneers in scoring at 15.3 ppg. He is the 17th all-time leading scorer at UWP with 1,204 points.
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