MADISON, Wis. – Fourth-seeded New Glarus (25-2) downed top-seeded and previously undefeated Roncalli 44-41 in the Division 4 semifinals of the 2019 State Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday evening at the Kohl Center.
It marks the first time in the two years the State Tournament has been seeded that a #4 seed has defeated a #1 seed.
The first half was closely contested with three lead changes, two ties and neither team leading by more than six points. The Glarner Knights led 29-27 at halftime thanks in part to eight straight points by Zach Feller to erase a six-point deficit and give New Glarus the lead.
The Glarner Knights built a seven-point lead, the largest lead by either team in the game, at the 11:08 mark of the second half, but the Jets chipped away and tied the game at 41-41 with 2:58 to play. Jaden Krecklow scored the game’s final three points in the last 1:11.
Krecklow led all scorers with 21 points and handed out a team-high four assists. Zach Feller also scored in double figures with 13 points. Mason Martinson paced the Glarner Knights on the boards with eight rebounds.
Chombi Lambert led the Jets with 12 points, and Ian Behringer added 10 points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Roncalli had difficulty finding the range from beyond the arc, shooting just 18 percent on 4-of-22 three-point attempts.
Roncalli (26-1) ends its season at State for the eighth time, and New Glarus will make its first title game appearance in their fourth tournament experience and their first since 1932.
Second-seeded Lourdes Academy (26-1) edged Osseo-Fairchild in the other Division 4 semifinal Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
Hayden Jones received a bounce pass at the basket and knocked in the game winner with 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock to send the Knights to the final. Lourdes bulit its largest lead of the game at 16 points in the first half with 4:19 remaining until halftime, but the Thunder cut its deficit to 39-34 with a 14-3 run to close the half.
Osseo-Fairchild continued its run in the second half, scoring the first seven points to take the lead at 41-39. The Thunder led by eight with 7:15 remaining in the game, but the Knights got back to even at 62-62 with 2:49 to play. Trailing by three with 1:17 on the clock, Henry Noone hit a three-pointer to tie the game and to set up Jones’ game-winning layup.
Noone led the Knights with 23 points, Preston Ruedinger chipped in with 15 points and a team-high five assists and four steals.
The loss spoiled the exploits of Logan Mulhern, who posted a double-double with 33 points and 20 rebounds. He also dished out a game-high six assists. Ryan Myhers and Caden Boettcher each contributed with nine points.
Osseo-Fairchild (24-3) completes its season with the Thunder’s fifth State experience, and the Knights will play for their first State championship in their fourth appearance in the tournament.
Semifinals: Thursday, March 14 - 6:35pm
#1 Roncalli (26-1) 41, #4 New Glarus (25-2) 44 - stats
#2 Lourdes Academy (26-1) 70, #3 Osseo-Fairchild (24-3) 68 - stats