ELGIN — The Wolfpack took Wausa’s best shot Saturday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough as EPPJ prevailed 55 to 42.
Coach Matt Euse’s team played one of their most physical games in recent years as they fought off a determined Vikings team who kept playing hard as the Wolfpack’s lead grew.
The battle was back and forth for much of the first half. After the Vikings scored to cut the lead to 22 to 16, the Wolfpack (4-1) scored nine unanswered points to close out the first half.
Senior Dylon Lueking started the run with a trey with three minutes to go before halftime.
Kellan Hoefer then scored the next four points before Karson Kallhoff closed out the run with a basket following a steal from Nick Anderson.
Up by 15 points to start the second half, EPPJ had to deal with a change of tactics. Wausa Coach Tim Schindler had his team go to a trapping half-court defense against EPPJ and it worked – for awhile. They cut the deficit to 12 points when Cade Wakeley drained a trey.
The Wolfpack adapted to Wausa’s ploy and with great ball movement they were able to find the open man for easy baskets. Blake Henn had back-to-back baskets. Later, Gage Thiessen added a three-point play as part of seven points in a row to boost the lead to 45 to 26.
Henn and Lueking closed out the quarter with free throws.
“We had to use a lot of ball fakes and then we just had to settle down on offense,” Thiessen said about adapting to Wausa’s pressure.
Thiessen’s two pointer early in the fourth quarter gave the Wolfpack a 20-point lead. From there, Wausa (2-2) closed out the game with an 11 to four run but it wasn’t enough to stop the Wolfpack from picking up their fourth victory of the season.
“I’m extremely happy with the victory,” Coach Euse said after the game. “It ws a tough one last night (loss to Plainview) and we came out tonight like it never happened. It was a good win.”
EPPJ was led in scoring by Thiessen with 16 points.
Matthew Schindler scored 11 points to lead the Vikings, Cashe Carlson added nine.
