By Becky Walz,
The Vikings never gave up.
It took all of 48 minutes Monday night for the Decorah boys’ basketball team (14-7) to knock off West Delaware in first round of the Class 3A Substate 4 action, 61-60, in Decorah.
Decorah takes a 14-7 record into the semifinals Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m., against No. 5 Marion Wolves (17-5) against the home team. West Delaware ends the season with a 12-11 overall record.
In Monday’s opening playoff game, the Hawks scored the first points of the game on back-to-back treys. Decorah senior Ben Bockman shouldered much of the first-quarter scoring for the Vikings with eight of their 13 points as West Delaware took the lead, 17-13, after the first eight minutes.
A trey by Matthew Bockman put Decorah back within one to start the second period. That combined with a B. Bockman bucket and a pair of charity tosses by Gavin Groux gave the Vikes a 20-19 lead that lasted just 21 seconds. In the latter part of the quarter, the Hawks went on a run that put Decorah behind 41-31 at the half. The Vikes went to work in the third, cutting the Hawks’ lead to 46-42 with eight minutes left to play.
In the final period, while Decorah played with a sense of urgency, West Delaware looked to slow the pace of the game and use up as much time as possible. M. Bockman pulled Decorah back within two, 57-55, with 2:48 to play with a shot and foul, converting on his lone free throw. Seconds later, B. Bockman connected on a long ball from the arc to tie the game 58-58. Shooting a 1-and-1, Viking senior Ethan Holthaus gave Decorah the 60-58 lead; however, West Delaware evened the score with 1:55 remaining on a pair of free throws. With a chance to go back on top, M. Bockman made a move to the basket and was tied up for a jump ball with the possession arrow in the Hawks’ favor. Ethan Holthaus had another shot and pulling Decorah ahead with a pair of free throws with 33 ticks on the clock but was unable to convert as the Hawks came down with the rebound and the shot clock off the table. A late M. Bockman steal ended with the visitors fouling the junior who went to the line with just over one second left, sinking one of the two attempts to give the Vikes the win.
“I’m proud of our guys for hanging in and playing their tails off the second half. They kept believing in each other and it showed,” said Coach Jonathan Carlson.
Ben Bockman led the scoring attack with 24 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists. Coming off the bench, Matthew Bockman finished the night with 19 points, while Gavin Groux put up seven. Topping the Vikes in rebounds with 12 was Kaiden Quandahl, while Tate Johnson had two big blocks.
The winner of the semifinal goes on to the substate final Monday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m., against either Charles City (16-5) or Mount Vernon (15-7).
W. Delaware 17 24 5 14 60
Decorah 13 18 11 19 61
Scoring – Ben Bockman 24; Matthew Bockman 19; Gavin Groux 7; Tate Johnson 5; Kaiden Quandahl 2; Andrew Rhodes 2; Ethan Holthaus 2
Rebounds – Quandahl 12; B. Bockman 7; Rhodes 6; M. Bockman 3; Kasey Krauskopf 2; Johnson 2; Holthaus 1; Assists – B. Bockman 4; Johnson 2; M. Bockman 2; Holthaus 1; Groux 1; Steals – Johnson 1; Holthaus 1; M. Bockman 1; Groux 1; Blocks – Johnson 2; B. Bockman 1
Stats
W. Delaware 17 24 5 14 60
Decorah 13 18 11 19 61
Scoring – Ben Bockman 24; Matthew Bockman 19; Gavin Groux 7; Tate Johnson 5; Kaiden Quandahl 2; Andrew Rhodes 2; Ethan Holthaus 2
Rebounds – Quandahl 12; B. Bockman 7; Rhodes 6; M. Bockman 3; Kasey Krauskopf 2; Johnson 2; Holthaus 1; Assists – B. Bockman 4; Johnson 2; M. Bockman 2; Holthaus 1; Groux 1; Steals – Johnson 1; Holthaus 1; M. Bockman 1; Groux 1; Blocks – Johnson 2; B. Bockman 1
