Norse overcome big run to top Eagles

Seniors on the Whitehall boys basketball team stepped up down the stretch to help the team top Alma/Pepin, 60-49, on Thursday.

The Norse had an eight-point lead at halftime, but the Eagles went on a 20-6 run to begin the second frame and take a 42-36 lead.

Grant Olson had a hand in eight straight Whitehall points as he knocked down a three pointer that tied the game at 42, assisted on a Mason Pientok basket that gave Whitehall the lead and then knocked down another three that made the score 47-43.

Pientok scored two straight baskets to put Whitehall ahead by six, 51-45. The Eagles climbed back within four at 53-49, but the Norse closed the game on a 7-0 run, with Olson scoring four of the points.

Pientok had a team-high 14 points for Whitehall, while Olson scored 13 and Lisowski added 12. The team also got eight from Cayden Johnston, seven from Seth Lambeck, four from Preston Schroeder and two from Will Youngbauer.

The win put Whitehall at 9-5 on the season and 6-1 in Dairyland Conference play, two games ahead of second-place Melrose-Mindoro in the Large Division. 

Whitehall hosted Cochrane-Fountain City on Tuesday and will head to Eleva-Strum on Friday. This coming Tuesday, they host Alma Center Lincoln.