Raider boys drop two in Coulee play

They’re far from contention, but the Arcadia boys basketball team still had a chance to decide who won the conference last week.

That chance slipped through their fingers, however, as the Raiders lost two games to teams competing for the conference title. The first was an overtime loss to current leader West Salem last week Tuesday. The second was a game that could’ve been close if not for a 24-0 run by Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau during the first half of Arcadia’s 59-40 loss on Thursday (see story elsewhere in Sports).

As it stands, West Salem needs just a win this Thursday to eliminate G-E-T, Onalaska Luther and Viroqua from contention in a tight race and the only team that could tie them is Black River Falls. Arcadia, meanwhile, sits at the bottom of the conference with an 0-11 record and a 1-19 overall mark.

After a game this week Monday against Tomah, the Raiders will host Luther on Thursday. 

The Raiders are the 12th seed in their Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association bracket and will play at Black River Falls this coming Tuesday. The winner of that game will play at (4) West Salem next Friday.

W. Salem 69 Arcadia 62 - The Raiders rallied to force overtime, but they weren’t able to knock off one of the top teams in the conference.

Arcadia trailed 32-23 at halftime, but they caught fire in the second half, knocking down eight three pointers, the last of which was by Michael Schweisthal as he tied the game at 60 with two seconds remaining. 

Chandler Sonsalla, Ethan Weltzien, Schweisthal and Kaden  Updike all had two three pointers as part of a 37-point half that tied the game at the end of regulation.

The overtime period was almost all West Salem, however. The Panthers got a couple of baskets early and made five-of-seven free throws to clinch the win. The only points Arcadia managed were two free throws by Schweisthal. 

Sonsalla scored 18 to lead the Raiders while Schweisthal finished with 15. Arcadia got eight points from Weltzien, seven from Chase Patzner, six from Kaden Updike, five from Trev Bjorge and three from Cason Pehler. 

Arcadia made 12 three pointers in the game, seven more than West Salem managed. The Panthers were able to work inside for baskets however as David Lattos scored 21 and Josh Hauser managed 20.