RONCALLI 82, PARDEEVILLE 48
Top-seeded Roncalli (22-5) rolled to a convincing 82-48 victory over Pardeeville in the Division 4 semifinals of the State Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday evening at the Kohl Center.
The Jets never trailed in the game, opening to a double-digit lead at 17-5. The Bulldogs were unable to cut their deficit into single digits the rest of the game. The final score represented Roncalli’s largest lead of the game.
The Jets set a Division 4 record for the most three-point field goals made in a game with 13, eclipsing the old mark of 10. In addition, Roncalli had a resounding advantage in points off turnovers at 28-3, forcing the Bulldogs into 17 turnovers.
Chombi Lambert led all scorers with 32 points for the Jets, which shot 50 percent from the field in the game, including 59 percent from the three-point arc. Matthew LeVene tossed in 15 points, and Mitchel Schneider and Ian Behringer added double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Behringer also contributed with a game-high eight points. Lambert and LeVene each had a game-high five assists and Keegan Johnsrud led the defense with five steals.
Pardeeville was led by Jonathan Kamrath with 13 points, and Logan Zuhlke chipped in with 10 points.
The Jets advance past the State semifinal round for the first time in their seven State appearances, and Pardeeville finishes its season in the State tournament for the sixth time.
MARATHON 61, CLEAR LAKE 38
Third-seeded Marathon (23-4) cruised to a 61-38 win over previously undefeated Clear Lake in the Division 4 semifinals at the Kohl Center Thursday night.
In a tightly contested game throughout the first half, Marathon went on a 19-4 run early in the second half to build 49-33 advantage after leading 28-22 at the half. The Red Raiders used their strength inside to wear down the Warriors, possessing a 50-20 advantage in points scored in the paint and a 35-26 rebounding edge.
Nathan Stoffel and Carter Hanke led the Red Raiders in the scoring column with 18 points apiece. Stoffel also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, and Hanke added a game-high three steals.
Bailey Blanchard led Clear Lake with 15 points and six rebounds. Marshall Cain was the team’s second-leading scorer with seven points, and Bryce Hacker led the Warriors statistically on defense with four blocked shots and two steals.
Marathon advances to the final in pursuit of its fifth State championship in eight appearances, and Clear Lake (25-1) ends its season at State in its second experience in the State tournament.