01-22-08
BY JACK BULLOCK
ALTAMONT - Stewardson-Strasburg has struggled with some big games this season – especially in the conference having dropped a pair of league games which put them in the middle of the pack early in the NTC race.

The Comets were relegated to the number five seeding in the annual conference tournament.

But on Tuesday night the Comets came up with a big effort to open the NTC event.

Playing like the team picked by ABV to win the NTC regular season title – the Comets moved into the title round with a win over the host school.

Stew-Stras took advantage of Altamont's size disadvantage by pounding the ball inside to Phil Wetherell and Jon Hoene.

The pair combined to score 27 points (Wetherell 18, Hoene 9) in the paint while senior guard and leader Ben Giertz scored 18 points in the important 61-48 victory.

This win sets up a semifinal game against Effingham St. Anthony on Thursday night in a rematch of a game played last Friday night at Stewardson-Strasburg in which the visiting Bulldogs took a 55-44 decision.

Stew-Stras is now in position to win the league tourney for the first time since 1995.

Coach Mike Walker's team took the lead for good in the second quarter and held off the host Indians with a strong defensive effort in the second half to improve to 14-5 overall.

A 14-0 run to begin the fourth quarter put Stew-Stras in the championship picture.

“We knew coming in that the way Altamont had been playing and playing them on their home floor would be tough,” said Stew-Stras head coach Mike Walker. “But the kids responded well and came out and did some things really well.”

The Indians were led by Alec Braasch who stepped off the Altamont bench to score 10 points. No other Altamont player reached double-figures as the Tribe saw their record slip to 16-4 on the season.

“They (Stew-Stras) hurt us with some match up problems tonight,” said Altamont head coach Doug Hill. “They put the big boys in against us tonight (Wetherell and Hoene) and when we tried to collapse in on them and help out then they would knock one down from the perimeter.”

After falling behind the Comets early 12-4 due in part to pair of 3-point bombs (eight total points) by Giertz – the Indians made their top run of the evening to take the first quarter advantage at the horn.

Landon Duckwitz scored six points in the first quarter on drives to the basket.

The 5-foot-7 junior point guard split the Stewardson-Strasburg defense for a pair of successful drives and also hit a baseline jumper that started a 13-3 run to close the frame.

Braasch scored the final seven points in the run by connecting from behind the arc twice in consecutive possessions.

His first bomb from the right wing ripped the nets to cut the Comets lead to 15-13.

His second long range score from the left corner found the mark as he was being fouled by Stew-Stras' Josh Tabbert.

When Braasch converted the four-point play – Altamont led 17-15 at the end of one.

Stewardson-Strasburg took the lead for good with a 13-3 second quarter opening scoring sprint.

As he had done in the opening quarter – Giertz opened up the second stanza with a 3-pointer to spark his club.

Steven Thomas – a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard – also nailed a 3-pointer in the run. When his shot went down the Comets led 26-20 with 5:45 to go before the half.

Hoene took a pair of 'high-low' lob passes from Wetherell to score underneath the basket.

Being fouled on the second made basket by Altamont's Curt Heiden – Hoene made his free throw to increase the Comets lead to 33-25 with under a minute to play in the second quarter.

Wetherell scored in transition to close the half at 35-27.

“Phil (Wetherell) played with a lot of energy tonight,” added Walker. “He's so athletic and he can really be explosive. He did a nice job of finishing tonight. Jon Hoene came in tonight and made some nice buckets for us. He (Hoene) is developing into a nice player and we are looking for some big things out of him.”

In a lackluster third quarter – Stewardson-Strasburg managed to stay ahead of Altamont with Wetherell scoring five of the Comets seven points. S-S committed five turnovers in the quarter but the host's couldn't make up any ground.

“We lost a bit of our aggressiveness in the third quarter and made a few mistakes but we have been working on sharpening up our passes and taking care of the ball,” said Walker.

Altamont – when they needed a scoring run – came up with just a 3-of-10 shooting quarter.

Devin Frailey breathed a bit of hope into the Altamont sails with a 3-pointer from the right wing that closed the third quarter scoring. His trifecta with 1:32 to go cut the Indians deficit to 42-35 heading into the final quarter.

Stew-Stras put the outcome to rest with that 14-0 run to seal the deal.

Will Rincker started that scoring rush with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc just seconds into the final quarter.

He also made a nice drive between Altamont defenders for a score in the run.

Giertz made a pair of significant free throws in the run.

With those made charities – the 6-foot senior guard reached the 1,000-point total for his prep career.

“He (Giertz) has a way of making big plays for us,” Walker added. “He is a leader without being a vocal leader. He does it with his work ethic. He has a way of making big plays.”

With a Hoene lay in which resulted from an assist from Giertz with 3:48 remaining – Stew-Stras was in command at 56-35.

Thomas scored one final basket for Stewardson-Strasburg on a fast break lay in and when Wetherell converted a pair of free throws – the lead was at 60-41 with 1:07 left.

Altamont scored a pair of late baskets (Braasch and Justin Durbin) to make the score respectable.

Stew-Stras finished 20-of-44 from the field (45 percent) while hitting 5-of-14 from behind the 3-point line.

Following Giertz, Wetherell and Hoene in scoring were Rincker and Thomas with nine and six points respectively.

The Comets outrebounded Altamont 32-20 on the night.

“We talked about getting stops in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter and tonight we did that,” Walker added. “I told the kids that if we defend and box out on the defensive end that we can take care of this basketball game right here. I'm proud of the team because we came out with some intensity tonight and got the job done.”

The Indians finished the contest with a 17-of-52 showing from the field while missing 15 3-point attempts (7-of-22) in the loss.

Duckwitz and Frailey added eight points each for the Indians – who must regroup to play Beecher City in the consolation bracket game Thursday night.

“Give them (Stew-Stras) the credit. They extended the lead on us when they had the chance,” added Hill. “We were humbled tonight. We have to get back to winning ballgames.”

Stewardson-Strasburg (61) - Thomas 1 1 1-2 6, Musson 0 0 0-0 0, Carlson 0 0 0-0 0, Huey 0 0 0-0 0, Widdersheim 0 0 1-2 1, Giertz 1 3 7-8 18, Becker 0 0 0-0 0, Wetherell 7 0 4-8 18, Hoene 4 0 1-1 9, Tabbert 0 0 0-0 0, Collins 0 0 0-0 0, Rincker 2 1 2-2 9.
2FG-15, 3FG-5, FT-16-23, PF-14.
Altamont (48) - Duckwitz 4 0 0-0 8, Durbin 1 1 1-1 6, Beccue 1 0 2-2 4, McCarron 2 1 0-0 7, Braasch 1 2 2-3 10, J. Heiden 1 0 0-0 2, C. Heiden 0 1 0-0 3, Frailey 1 2 0-1 8, Hooks 0 0 0-0 0, Sterry 0 0 0-1 0.
2FG-11, 3FG-7, FT-5-7, PF-17
Fouled Out - None.
Technical Fouls - None.

EFFINGHAM ST. ANTHONY 63, BEECHER CITY 51
Using a 12-1 run to open up the second half – the top-seeded Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals with a win over the Eagles in the first game Tuesday night.

Three Bulldogs scored in double-figures for head coach Matt Britton as the Dawgs improved to 13-6 on the season.

Taylor Worman led St. A with 14 points including four 3-pointers – two of which came during the third quarter explosion in which the Bulldogs broke open a close game with a 18-7 conquest.

Kyle McHugh and Blake Koerner added 10 points each in the win.

The Eagles had balanced scoring but not enough of a total to pull the upset.

Jared Laue topped the hit parade with 13 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Macauley Mason and Luke Levitt added nine points apiece in defeat.

Beecher City (9-10) trailed just 30-28 at the half but fell behind quickly in the third quarter and never recovered.

Sending the Bulldogs to the foul line turned out to be a bad idea as St. Anthony hit 11-of-12 free throws in the final two quarters.

The Eagles will play the host Indians Thursday night at 6:15 in the consolation semifinals.

Beecher City (51) - M. Kline 0 0 0-0 0, Fritcher 0 0 2-2 2, McKay 3 0 0-1 6, N. Kline 1 0 0-0 2, Mason 2 1 2-2 9, Levitt 3 1 2-2 9, Harder 1 1 3-4 8, Brandt 0 0 0-0 0, Laue 5 0 3-5 13, DeWerdt 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-16, 3FG-3, FT-10-16, PF-17.
Effingham St. Anthony (63) - Jansen 0 0 0-0 0, McHugh 2 0 6-6 10, Koerner 4 0 2-2 10, Winkler 1 0 0-0 2, Worman 1 4 0-0 14, A. Hecht 2 0 1-4 5, Steppe 4 0 1-3 9, Walsh 0 0 0-0 0, Baker 1 0 0-0 2, Fearday 2 0 5-6 9, Sudkamp 0 0 0-0 0, M. Hecht
0 0 0-0 0, Schmidt 1 0 0-2 2.
2FG-11, 3FG-7, FT-5-7, PF-17
Fouled Out - Laue - Beecher City.
Technical Fouls - None.