A gallant comeback attempt came up short for the Northwestern High School boys basketball team as its season came to an end with a 58-44 loss at Somerset on Friday, March 6.
The Tigers, who trailed by 24 points (42-18) less than a minute into the second half, got within 10 at 54-44 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Dayne Evanson and Jake Brill with 1:46 remaining.
But that would be as close as the Tigers would get. Somerset scored the final four points to secure a berth in the WIAA Division 3 regional final Saturday, March 7, at Prescott.
No. 1 Prescott (19-4) advanced with an 81-61 win over Hayward.
No. 4 Somerset (15-9) lost to Prescott twice during the season by scores of 79-52 and 88-76.
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The Tigers led 2-0 and 4-3 early on, but that would be the only time they led in the game as the Spartans went on a 10-0 run to open up a 13-4 lead.
Somerset’s lead reached double figures for the first time at 19-9 on a Ty Madden basket, and the Tigers got within eight points twice over the next couple of minutes, including 21-13 on a Dayne Evanson steal and lay up.
Somerset pulled away late in the first half, which ended with a 12-0 run and a 40-18 Spartan lead at the intermission.
Brill led the Tigers (16-8) with 13 points, Evanson had 11 and Carsen Nykanen eight.
Jackson Cook led a balanced Somerset attack with 16 points. Madden added 15 points and Melvin Medina Ortizhad 14.
TIGER TALES: Seniors playing their final games for the Tigers were Brill, Andrew Klobucher, Jack Ogren, Evanson, Nolan Gustafson, Jagar Stillson and Nykanen.
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Northwestern ........... 18-26—44
Somerset .................. 40-18—58
Northwestern — Jake Brill 13, Dayne Evanson 11, Monte Mayberry 2, CJ Thompson 2, Harrison Nelson 3, Andrew Klobucher 3, Nolan Gustafson 2, Carsen Nykanen 8. Totals 18 6-14 44
3-point goals — Evanson, Brill.
Somerset — Jackson Cook 16, Ty Madden 15, Melvin Medina Ortiz 14, Tate Pitcher 2, Trae Kreibich 6, Tysen Wink 1, Mason Cook 4. Totals 20 13-26 58.
3-points goals — Madden 3, Kreibich 2.
