Waterloo outlasts Cardinal 51-48 in Division VII Sectional semifinal win
ATWATER, OH- Fred Brookover Gymnasium was the site on Monday night for a Division 7 Sectional Semifinal as the #16 seed Waterloo Vikings hosted the #17 seed Cardinal Huskies. The Vikings came in carrying some momentum of a two game winning streak to end the regular season while the Huskies were on a nine game losing skid. In what was a back and forth contest the Vikings stood tall at the end closing out the 4th with a 51-48 win.
The Vikings got off to a fast start jumping out to an 8-0 lead early as Mason Biltz converted an and-one opportunity and nailed a three after a Keyshawn King layup for the early lead. In addition to the early offense Evan Gallagher and Biltz came up with a couple big blocked shots on defense in the first few minutes.
Keyshawn King with a layup in the 1st for Waterloo
Cardinal would close the quarter on a 7-0 run cutting the Vikings lead to 8-7 after a low scoring 1st quarter.
Trevor Flarida scored the first four points to open the 2nd quarter for Waterloo pushing their lead up to 12-7. The Huskies responded with an 8-0 run capped off by a Thomas Skytta score to take the lead 15-12. Isaac Hall would get a big rebound and putback inside for Waterloo before the Huskies closed the half scoring the final six points to take a 21-14 lead at the break.
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Waterloo would come out strong to open the 2nd half going on a 9-0 run to take a 23-21 lead after a Keyshawn King bucket. Cardinal would respond with an 8-0 run led by five points from Joey Komandt to regain the lead 29-23. Evan Gallagher would stop the run for Waterloo with a score inside as the teams went back and forth for the next few possessions. Jayden Martin had a nice turnaround jumper inside for the Vikings as they trailed 35-30,
Jayden Martin scores for Waterloo in the 3rd
Cardinal would take a 37-33 lead into the final quarter.
Mason Biltz would give the Vikings the lead to begin the 4th after back to back three balls, the last of which put them on top 39-37.
Mason Biltz with the big corner three for Waterloo to give them the lead in the 4th
Following a Komandt bucket for Cardinal, it was Biltz again making a play as he scored inside with the foul and converted the and-one opportunity giving Waterloo a 42-39 lead.
Mason Biltz with the and=one opportunity in the 4th
Ian Sindelar would get an and-one opportunity at the other end for the Huskies but missed the free throw. It was then Trevor Flarida’s turn as scored and got fouled inside for his own and-one opportunity.
Trevor Flarida scores with the foul in the 4th
He could not convert the free throw which left the Waterloo lead at 44-41. Flarida would then split a pair of free throws and convert a layup for a 47-41 lead. Kannon Strever scored at the other end for the Huskies before Flarida converted a pair of free throws giving the Vikings a 49-43 lead with under two minutes to play. Carson Davis would hit two big time shots for Cardinal, the last of which was a three pulling the Huskies withing a point at 49-48 with under 30 seconds to play. At the other end Flarida would convert a huge shot inside with 19 seconds left for a 51-48 lead.
Trevor Flarida with the big bucket late in the 4th for Waterloo
The Huskies would get two looks from three but could not convert as the Vikings held on for the 51-48 home playoff win.
Mason Biltz led the way for the Vikings with 18 points while Trevor Flarida chipped in with 16 along with 6 rebounds.
Joey Komandt topped the Huskies with 15 points.
Waterloo will advance to the Sectional Final on Thursday at #1 seed McDonald.
I spoke with Biltz, Flarida and coach Gavin English following the big win.
