Pioneers stunned by Blue Devils in WIAC playoffs
February 23, 2010
Jerrel Enerson-Matthews' long three-point shot at the buzzer gave host UW-Stout a stunning 75-74 victory over UW-Platteville Tuesday in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference post-season tournament.
Enerson-Matthews grabbed a defensive rebound with 11 seconds left and got the ball back in front of the Blue Devil bench. He let the ball fly, and it swished in at the buzzer, ending the Pioneers' season.
The 16-10 Blue Devils will play in the semifinals at UW-Stevens Point Thursday, while UW-Superior travels to UW-Whitewater. The Pioneers finish their season at 14-12.
Curt Hanson scored a game-high 28 points in what will be his final game in a Pioneer uniform. He made 11-17 from the floor, including 5-10 three-point attempts. Junior Eric Wall added 19 points, making all but one of his eight attempts, while senior Mike Shaw scored 14, with 12 coming via the three-point shot.
Eric Hostetter scored 20, and Enerson-Matthews 18 for the Blue Devils, who scored the final eight points of the game.
Both teams shot exceptionally well from long range, with the Pioneers making 11-23 three-point attempts, and the Blue Devils 11-24.
Hanson scored nine points and Wall six as the Pioneers raced out to a 15-6 lead. A Shane Kieler three-pointer increased the margin to 18-6 5:43 into the contest. The Pioneers stil had a 12-point lead at 21-9 when the Blue Devils roared back to tie the score at 23. Enerson-Matthews hit two three-point baskets to spark the Stout comeback.
The Blue Devils, thanks in large part to a 7-10 effort from beyond the three-point arc, took a 44-38 lead into the locker room at the half.
Holding Stout without a field goal for more than five minutes to start the second half, the Pioneers came back to take a 50-48 lead. Hanson's long three-pointer put the Pioneers back on top in the fast-paced contest. UWP was ahead 63-62 when Wall scored a layup with 6:34 left and two free throws at 5:24. Kieler was fouled attempting a three-point basket and made a trio of free throws, completing a 7-0 run with 4:36 remaining. The hosts cut the lead to five twice, but Wall grabbed an offensive rebound and put in a basket right before the shot clock went off (making it 72-67) , and Hanson scored on an acrobatic drive down the middle (74-67). The Blue Devils would not give in, however, as Michael Fant's three-point basket brought Stout back to within 74-72 with 48 seconds remaining. The Pioneers worked the shot clock down to two seconds but just missed on a three-pointer.
Coach Jeff Gard will bid farewell to five seniors: Hanson, Shaw, Allan Ballweg, Andrew Brown, and Connor Finley.
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