ELGIN — It started out easy and then it was hard, yet in the end the Wolfpack boys handed Riverside their first loss of the season by the score of 46 to 32.
Playing the season opener for both teams Thursday night in the EPS gym, the Wolfpack’s deep bench helped wear down the Chargers in the latter stages of both halves.
After building a 15 to 11 lead in the first quarter, the Wolfpack outscored Riverside 11 to 4 to take a 26 to 15 lead at halftime. Keying the run was a three-point play by sophomore Jarek Erickson and a steal and basket from senior Blake Henn. Henn added two more field goals before Karson Kallhoff closed out the half with a two-pinter.
The lead grew to 13 points in the third quarter then Riverside cut into the lead. Carter Keen drilled a trey at the buzzer to pull Riverside within eight, 37 to 29 with one quarter to go.
Neither team scored for the first 2 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Henn and Erickson had back-to-baskets before senior Gage Thiessen closed out the game by making five of six free throws. Riverside’s only points came on a trey by reserve Andy Glesinger just seconds before the final buzzer.
Dane Schalk led the Chargers with 10 points in the game.
Erickson led the Wolfpack with 14 points, Henn and Thiessen each had 11.
EPPJ pulled down 40 rebounds led by Thiessen and Lueking each with eight. Lueking was the team leader in assists with five.
EPPJ 46, Riverside 32
Chargers…………11 4 14 3 — 32
Wolfpack…………15 11 11 9 — 46
Wolfpack — Blake Henn 5-11 1-2 11, Kellan Hoefer 0-1 0-0 0, Gage Thiessen 2-5 5-6 11, Karson Kallhoff 1-9 2-2 4, Nick Anderson 0-1 0-0 0, Jarek Erickson 5-12 3-4 14, Steven Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Beckman 0-0 0-0 0, Dylon Lueking 3-6 0-0 6. Team totals: 16-45 11-14 46. Three-point shots — Wolfpack 3-18 (Gage Thiessen 2, Jarek Erickson 1).
Riverside — Carter Keen 5, Dane Schalk 10, Drew Carraher 7, Jack Molt 5, Larry Diessner 2, AJ Glesinger 3.
Rebounds — Wolfpack 40 (Dylon Lueking 8, Gage Thiessen 8). Assists — Wolfpack 9 (Dylon Lueking 5). Steals — Wolfpack 5. Turnovers — Wolfpack 16.
