By Becky Walz,
After defeating Mason City in its final regular season contest, the Class 3A No. 2 Decorah boys basketball team (21-1) took the first step toward a return trip to the state tournament Monday night, for as the Vikes defeated Clinton in the Substate quarterfinal, 88-69.
The Vikings now host Independence (10-13) tonight at 7 p.m. (Thursday, Feb. 27). A win in the semifinal round will push Decorah into the substate final against either Xavier (13-9) and Wahlert Catholic (13-9) at 7 p.m. Monday, March 3 at home.
The finale
The Vikings closed out the regular portion of the season with a win Thursday night, defeating Mason City (9-12) at home 88-69.
Decorah put up three big quarters that began with a 26-11 lead after the first period. Rolling out the punches, the Vikes dropped in 25 points in the second and carried a 51-29 lead at the break. Mason City picked up the pace in the third, attempting to scratch into the deficit, narrowing it only by two as Decorah picked up the win.
Zachary Driscoll and Cael LaFrentz accounted for over half of the Vikings’ points with Driscoll putting in 31 and LaFrentz adding 29 to go with 16 rebounds. Driscoll dished out 10 assists for his double-double to go with five steals and four boards. Noah Milburn was also in double figures with 12 points, along with six rebounds, six assists, three blocked shots and two steals. Putting up nine was Peyton Webb.
Mason City 11 18 26 13 69
Decorah 26 25 24 13 88
Scoring – Zachary Driscoll 31; Cael LaFrentz 29; Noah Milburn 12; Peyton Webb 9; Louie Bucksa 3; Carter Dlhy 3; Gavin Groux 1
Rebounds – LaFrentz 16; Milburn 6; Driscoll 4; Trevor Kuenen 3; Dlhy 3; Webb 2; Groux 1; Bucksa 1; Jackson Pipho 1; Assists – Driscoll 10; Milburn 6; Dlhy 2; Groux 1; Kuennen 1; Webb 1; Tanner Caddell 1; Pipho 1; Steals – Driscoll 5; Milburn 2; Bucksa 2; Groux 1; Blocks – Milburn 3; Kuennen 1; LaFrentz 1
Kicking off postseason
Clinton (1-21) may have controlled Monday’s tip and got the first bucket but that was the only time the River Kings were in control in the Class 3A substate quarterfinal as the Vikings wrapped up a 77-52 win a home.
It was a cold start for Decorah going the first two minutes without a basket, but when the fire got started, it roared to life with a 16-8 lead after the first eight minutes. Clinton managed to get the score back within three with 2:37 left in the second at 24-21; however, some hot shooting by junior Cael LaFrentz and Zach Driscoll pushed Decorah ahead. The two Vikings combined to go on a 12-0 run in the final 2:37, with a last second shot by Noah giving Decorah a 37-21 halftime advantage.
Decorah knocked down the first four points of the third period before the River Kings ended the scoring drought that plagued them. While Clinton clawed at the deficit, the Vikings continued to pull away, doubling up the visitors 52-25 by the 3:31 mark in the third and held on to a 60-32 lead with eight minutes remaining. Although the River Kings dug into the deficit in the fourth Decorah rolled into the substate semifinal 77-52.
Unofficial stats had LaFrentz as the overall leader in points with 26 while Driscoll put up 17 and Milburn posted 16. Trevor Kuennen added five with Gavin Groux contributing four. Peyton Webb put up three while Tanner Caddell, Jackson Pipho and Louie Bucksa all had two.
Clinton 8 13 11 20 52
Decorah 16 21 23 17 77
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