Tosa West rallies late, stuns Wisco

March 10, 2012

Wauwatosa West got hot at the right time, scoring the game’s final eight points to upset Wisconsin Lutheran at home, 48-45.
 
For most of the final quarter, Wisconsin Lutheran was sailing smoothly.
 
Senior Karynda DuPree rattled off nine consecutive points for the Vikings on a series of post moves, soft-arcing free throws, and even a long-distance three.  Junior floor general Kelsey Frey plucked a pair of steals from the Trojans and was coolly leading the attack. The Vikings led 45-40 with just more than 2 minutes remaining.
 
At that juncture, West sophomore wing Elise Ditscheit found senior Jenna Lahmann slashing through traffic to make it 45-42. The Trojans then forced the Vikings into three consecutive turnovers.
 
“We knew defense would be the key,” said junior Jessica Pike. “We knew about their inside scorers and outside shooters. We tried not to foul, and just left everything on the court in case it was our last game.”
 
With just 0:38 remaining, Ditscheit did it again. The sophomore drove to the hole, got fouled, and buried a pair of free throws to draw West within one point, 45-44.
 
With 0:25 remaining, Trojans junior forward Latasha Harmon snatched a steal off the wing and slung a pass up the sideline to Pike, who calmly buried a rainbow three.
 
“That was the play of the game right there,” said West coach Ron Gavinski. “Latasha, if she doesn’t make that play for us, who knows what’s going to happen? And Jessica Pike? For the lead, with under 30 seconds? That’s a big shot anywhere.”
 
“All I was thinking about was my team getting ahead,” Pike said. “I work on my shot a lot. This seemed like a good time to use it. I took the shot and prayed it went in.”
 
Suddenly West had the lead for the first time since the third quarter began. A third Vikings turnover, with just 12 seconds remaining, all but sealed the deal. Sophomore Ashley Lindstrom hit one of two free throws for West.
 
Wisconsin Lutheran’s final three-point attempt to force overtime bounced off the side of the rim, and Tosa West – team and fans alike – erupted.

The teams mirrored one another in talent, makeup and style. For Wisconsin Lutheran, the steady hand of Frey (6 steals, 4 assists), interior finesse of DuPree (20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks), and scoring bursts of sophomore lockdown defender Elise DeNoyer (11 points) were all but negated by the spinning lefty showmanship of West senior guard Jenna Engel (10 points, 5 assists), the toughness and grit of Harmon (6 points, 10 rebounds) and the all-purpose gamesmanship of Ditscheit (14 points, 3 assists).
 
There were seven lead changes in the first half, never more than five points either way, but the third quarter went to Wisconsin Lutheran. The Vikings outscored the Trojans 13-7, largely on the open court skills of junior Mandy Frey (9 points) and interior work of DuPree.
 
But  the fourth quarter, at least the chunk of it that mattered most, went to Tosa West.
 
Next up for West is Whitefish Bay in next Thursday's sectional semifinal.
 
“We played them once this year and lost by seven,” Gavinski said. “We’re going to need more great team defense, and we’re going to need to hit more big shots. Their coach (Greg) Capper is a good one. It’s going to be a great game. If we work hard, who knows what will happen?"

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