RONCALLI SURGES PAST IOLA-SCANDINAVIA IN DIVISION 4 BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL FINAL
Zaleski Sports
APPLETON – The undefeated Iola-Scandinavia boys basketball team was battle tested throughout the season and coming into a WIAA Division 4 sectional final matchup with Manitowoc Roncalli, it would no doubt be tested again.
Both teams exchanged leads throughout the game and one final burst from the Jets was enough to secure a 52-45 victory and a state tournament berth on Saturday afternoon at Appleton East High School.
Ryan Fischer made his only basket of the game, a 3-pointer from the left wing, with 3:10 to go to start an 11-5 run to end the game for Roncalli, which will be making its fourth trip to state in the past six seasons.
Roncalli (24-3) will play Marshall in a Division 4 semifinal Thursday at 8:15 p.m. at the 2022 WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Isaiah Hoyord scored the first seven points of the game to give Iola-Scandinavia a quick 7-0 lead.
The Jets immediately fought back and the game went back-and-forth the rest of the way.
Roncalli took a 25-23 lead into halftime and the game was within one possession for much of the second half before the late run.
Joseph Witczak made eight of 10 free throws in the second half and finished with 12 points for the Jetes. Luke Pautz led the way with 23 points.
Hoyord finished with 14 points and Kaden Jueds added 12 for Iola-Scandinavia, which finishes its magical season with a 27-1 record.
Jets 52, Thunderbirds 45
Manitowoc Roncalli 25 27 - 52
Iola-Scandinavia 23 22 - 45
MANITOWOC RONCALLI (52): Logan Brotski 0 0-0 0, Ryan Fischer 1 0-0 3, Brayden Yanda 2 0-3 5, Luke Pautz 8 3-4 23, Brett Simmer 0 0-0 0, Reece Stangel 3 2-4 9, Connor Kubsch 0 0-0 0, Joseph Witczak 2 8-10 12. FG: 16. FT: 13-21. 3-pointers: 7 (Pautz 4, Fischer 1, Yanda 1, Stangel 1). Record: 24-3.
IOLA-SCANDINAVIA (45): Isaiah Hoyord 3 6-9 14, Parker Prahl 3 2-2 8, Parker Gullixon 0 0-0 0, Ian Koss 1 0-0 2, Kaden Jueds 5 2-2 12, Brock Wester 3 3-4 9, Will Tappa 0 0-0 0. FG: 15. FT: 13-17. 3-pointers: 2 (Hoyord 2). Record: 27-1.