Norse fall to Colfax, down top DC contender

The Dairyland Conference Large Division title will still run through Whitehall. 

Whitehall has won the last three DC-Large titles and came away with a crucial win last week. After a nonconference loss to Cofax last week Monday, the Norse outlasted Melrose-Mindoro – a team that has been Whitehall’s top threat for the DC-Large title in recent seasons — in overtime on Friday. Whitehall’s 83-76 win kept the team undefeated in DC play and at the top of the DC-Large standings as the only team without a loss.

Whitehall’s overall record sat at 3-1 at the start of this week before the team hosted Blair-Taylor on Thursday. They’ll play in Augusta this coming Tuesday and at Mondovi next Thursday in their last game before the Christmas break. 

Colfax 63 Whitehall 56

The Norse had a one-point lead at halftime, but the Vikings went on a run midway through the second half and Whitehall couldn’t catch up. 

The teams went back and forth in the opening minutes of the second frame before Colfax went on an 8-0 run to take a 43-36 lead. Whitehall kept battling and was within four at 47-43, before the Vikings scored five straight to take a nine-point advantage.

The lead was still at nine before Whitehall scored five in a row to get it to 56-52 with about two minutes left in the game. Colfax made free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.

Preston Schroeder had a strong second half, scoring 11 of his team-high 13 points. Both Brayden Lisowski and Grant Olson scored 10 for Whitehall while freshman Will Youngbauer put in nine, Mason Pientok scored eight, Cayden Johnston, four and Seth Lambeck, two.

Whitehall 83 Mel-Min 76

A three pointer and free throws gave the Norse control in overtime. 

Both teams went on runs in the second half and missed opportunities to win the game in regulation. Mel-Min took an early lead in overtime, but Whitehall tied the game on a layup by Lambeck.

After the Norse got a stop, Grant Olson found himself open and drilled a three pointer with two minutes left. Whitehall got another stop defensively before Lambeck made two free throws to make it a five-point game with 1:14 remaining. 

Any hopes the Mustangs still had went out the window shortly after Lambeck’s free throws as they turned the ball over in the backcourt. After another Mel-Min foul, Will Youngbauer made two from the line to make it a three-possession game with less than a minute remaining.

Youngbauer was one of the keys for the Norse getting back in the game in the second half. Mel-Min took a three-point lead into halftime and seemed to be taking control early in the second. The Mustangs extended the lead to six early in the second and were ahead by seven before Youngbauer and Cayden Johnston gave the team a spark. Both entered at the same time and each scored five points. 

After Lambeck tied the game with a corner three, a basket by Mason Pientok gave the Norse a two-point lead. Mel-Min tied the game on its next possession before Olson scored and Lisowski drilled a three pointer to put Whitehall ahead 66-61.

The Norse had a difficult time with Mel-Min’s size. The Mustangs have three starters who are listed at six-foot-five or taller and they were able to work the ball inside to Presley Byom all game. They also got a few three pointers in the second frame as they tied it at 72. 

Both teams had chances to win the game in regulation, but both had multiple turnovers down the stretch and Byom missed a shot inside at the buzzer.

Byom scored a game-high 33 points for the Mustangs. 

It was a balanced effort for the Norse. Lambeck finished with 18 points, Youngbauer scored 17, Olson, 15 and Pientok scored 14. The team also got nine from Johnston, eight from Lisowski and two from Preston Schroeder.