#3 Wheaton edges #5 UWP in OT
March 7, 2009
By Paul Erickson, UW-Platteville Sports Information Director
The NCAA called it a second-round game, but nobody can convince the 2,400 fans at Wheaton College that the overtime battle they witnessed wasn't a national championship game.
Third-ranked Wheaton out-lasted fifth-ranked UW-Platteville 74-69 in a game that showcased the best in Division III.
"It was two top teams playing in a national-championship atmosphere," said Pioneer Coach Paul Combs. "It's just a shame someone had to lose."
The Thunder, D3hoops.com's pick to win the national title, will take a 26-3 record into next weekend's Sweet Sixteen, while the Pioneers' outstanding season ended at 23-6.
The game featured two of the 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy, the DIII player of the year award. And neither disappointed. The Thunder's Kent Raymond scored 24 points, and the Pioneers' Jeff Skemp exploded for 38 points, setting his career high and a new Pioneer playoff record.
Skemp made 17-21 from the floor, had eight rebounds, two assists, three blocked shots and four steals.
"I couldn't be more proud of his play tonight," Combs said, "the way he got in position, and the way his teammates got him the ball."
Skemp also credited his teammates for their play. The Pioneers overcame a 62-56 lead in the final minutes, with the center's layup tying the score at 63-63 to force the overtime.
"These guys don't quit," Skemp said. "They don't know what that is. That's Pioneer basketball."
After Wheaton scored the first basket, the Pioneers went ahead 5-2, with Nick Allen's three-pointer fiving the Pioneers the lead. Jeff Skemp thundered home a dunk, giving UWP a 14-9 advantage. The Thunder tied the game with 8:41 left when Jake Carwell tipped in a rebound and took the lead 19-16 on a Jeremy Flederer three-point basket. Back-to-back Skemp baskets gave UWP a short-lived 20-19 lead, and the teams traded hoops the rest of the half which ended with the hosts ahead 27-24.
The Thunder extended their lead to 31-26, one minute into the half when Carwell launched a three-pointer, and went up 41-34 on Raymond's long-range trey. Curt Hanson's three-point shot from the left-side cut the margin to 41-39 with 11:58 left.
Both Allen and Eric Wall were whistled for their fourth fouls with more than 10 minutes remaining, challenging the Pioneer stamina.
The Thunder went ahead 52-45 with 6:48 to play on Panner's drive, prompting a Pioneer timeout. After an offensive foul on Skemp, Raymond used a back-door cut for a hoop and a 54-45 lead.
UWP would not go down without a fight, as Skemp made two free throws, Mike Shaw drained a three, and Lohoff made two more free throws, cutting the lead to 54-52 with 4:27 left.
Raymond countered with a floater from the left-side and two free shots, for a 58-52 margin at 3:23. The Pioneers drew within 60-56, but Wheaton's Andy Wiele made two free throws--banking home the second.
Hanson knocked down a three with 1:08 to play, and Lohoff scored on a fast-break layup, bringing UWP within 62-61 with 27.7 seconds remaining. The Pioneers forced a turnover on the inbounds pass, but Wheaton returned the favor on UWP's.
"It was just going with the game plan," Hanson said of his clutch three. "My teammates gave me the ball, and Jeff was the one that brought us that far."
Forced to foul, the Pioneers put Panner on the line. The 82-percent shooter made one of two, and Skemp tied the game with 6.8 seconds left. Wiele missed at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime at 63-63.
Skemp gave the Pioneers their first lead since 14-12 when he scored inside, giving the Pioneers a 65-64 lead. Andrew Jahn's three-point shot gave the advantage back to the Thunder, 67-65, with 2:08 to play, and Panner extended the margin to 69-65 with a jumper in the lane.
Skemp made two free shots, and Raymond made just one of two, putting Wheaton up 70-67 with 40.7 seconds to play. Jahns had a key steal on the next possession and made two foul shots with 18.7 to play. Hanson scored a driving layup with 12 seconds left, but Pfleder tipped in a Raymond miss with seven seconds left for the final 74-69 score.
"They just made a few more plays down the stretch," Combs said.
The Pioneers will bid farewell to an oustanding senior class. Jeff Skemp, Charlie Lohoff, Bo Richter, and Kyle Tetschlag combined to play in 426 games and score more than 3,000 points.
"It's a special group," Combs said. "These four seniors will forever be Pioneers."
The 2008-09 Pioneers were the first team to reach post-season play since 1999, and they will take their place among the best in school history.
"That's always been our goal," Skemp said. "Sometimes you don't always reach your goals, but this was an honor."
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